/;
< 7d. 7
pibrar^.
IN TME CUSTODY OF THE
B05TON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SHELF N?
^
PROOFS
CF TH-E
^SJL EXISTS XC£, AND DAXGE.xOVS TEXDENCT,
ILLUMINISM.
COhfTAtNlNG
AN ABSTRACT OF THE MOST INTER?:STING Pi^RTS OF
WHAT Dr. PvOBISON and the ABBE BARRUEL
HAVE PUBLISHED ON THIS SUSjECT ; WITH COLLAT= ERAI- PROOFS AND GENERAL OBSERVATIONS^
Br SETH PATSON, A. M.
"" For they are the Spirits of devils." Rev. xvi. I4>
* ■•" " Here nature breeds
Perverfe, all monflrous, all prodigious things
Abominable, unutterable, and worfe
Than fables yet have feign 'd, or fear conceiv'd."
MIL-ro^^
Puhlijbed according to ASi of Congtefs.
rRTN-TED BY SAMUEL E T H E R I D G F,
For the AUTHOR,
x8o2.
-> •■«
ADAKS
PREFACE.
XH E efforts which have been made to dif- credit the exijftence of Illumlnirm, and the torrents of abufe which have been fo Hberally poured on fuch as have attempted, apparently from the pureft motives, to unveil this myftery of iniquity, have in part pro- duced the end defigned. Some have miflaken vocifer- ation for argument, and confident ailertions for proofs ;, while others have been prevented from publifhing their behef and their fears, not choofing to encounter the fhafts of ridicule and defamation ; weapons found to be of great importance in this age of reafon, A general ftupor has hence taken place of that juii alarm, occa- fioned by the firft difcovery of this infernal combination^ But has the caufe of alarm ceafed ? There has been much clamor indeed, but have any folid, fatisfying proofs been exhibited, either that there has not been^ or is not now exifting, a confpiracy, which has for its ultimate obje£l, the abolition of chriftianity and gov- ernment ? Solid proofs alone ought to fatisfy us on a fubje<ft fo highly interefting to mankind. Such proofs have not, I confefs, come to my knowledge. Recent events do, on the contrary, confirm my belief, that a fyftematical attempt is nov/ in operation to undermine the foundation of every religious, moral, and focial eflablifliment. To thofe who have this belief, it muft appear important that the impending danger be placed in the moil confpicuous point of view ^ that the evi-^
IT P RET ACE.
dence of this fa£l, now difFufed tlirou-gh expeniive, and voiuminou.s tra<fts, and ariilng from a variety of cir- cumitances, fhould be coile^Tied into one point, freed from the obfcurity in which it has been indufirioufiy involvedj and the whole comprifed in a volumcj eufy to the purchafcr, and intelligible to every reader. The importance of fuch a publication at the prefent critical period, and which I have expedled, and hoped to fes from fome abler hand, is all the apology I have to- offer for undertaking the talk.
To defend religion, by expofing the plots concerted for its deflru^lion, is the principal objedt of this publi- cation : and if any thing of a political nature is intro- duced, it is with a view of detecting, and counteracting that dark policy, which has connected the fubverfion of every good government, with the overthrow of chrif- tianity.
I claim no merit for difcovering what I could not avoid feeing, but by fhutting my eyes *, and I fear no cenfure, for I have obeyed the call of duty. I have no hope of convincing thofe who have had sccefs to the evidence here referred to, but for reafons beft known to themi elves, have rejeded it ; nor the many who have prefumed to give judgment without examination : this ilatement of evidence is for thofe v/no have no medium of vifion ; and thofe, whofe optics have been injured by the duil; which fophiftry, prejudice, and the powerj of darknefshave raifed. Could I contribute but a mite, which is my all, to preferve my country from that vor- •tcx of anarchy, which has ingulphed the liberties, civii and religious, and the peace, property, and lives of mlU lions, my labor ^vill net be unrewarded.
CONTENTS,
Page.
PRELIMWART OBSERVATIONS, - 5
CHAP. I.
The AdorS) Exiflencey Objecf, and Secret of the Con-
/piracy, - . - - - . 30
II.
The means of the Confpirators, - - - 39.
III.
The Progrefs of the Con/piracy ; Triumph and Death
of the Chiefs, - - - _ r^
IV.
Occult Mafonry, _ - - . » ^^
V.
llluminifm -, its Origin, ASfors, and different
grades, - - - - - - 81
VI.
Code of the lllimiinees, - - - - ga
VII.
The Myfleries and Government of the Order, - 103
VIII.
The Difcovery of the SeB, - - - - lie
IX. 4
German Unign^ - - - - - 13?
|
CONTENTS. |
|
|
X. French Revolutioft^ _ , - ^ |
14c |
|
XI. |
|
|
Summary 'view of Ilhiminifmy |
^ss |
|
XII. OhjeElions conjtderedj - - |
i68 |
|
XTn. Collateral Proofs, and general Obfervations in relation to Europe-, |
175 |
|
XIV. The fame i in relation to the United States, |
19J |
|
XV. |
|
|
In Continuation, - - |
217 |
|
An ADDRESS, - - - , . |
245 |
|
CONCLUSION, . = . - - |
286 |
PRELIMINJRT OBSERVJTrONS.
1 G remove the obftrudions which prej- udiced and defigning men have raifed, is often a neceffary, but laborious and ungrateful talk, attending our inquiries after truth. No fooner is the precious gem brought to viev/, than its enemies, who hate its light, and cannot endure its brilliancy, are bufily employed in covering it v/ith filth and rubbiih ; hence much of the labor of thofe who wiih to pofiefs the heav- enly boon, ■
The teftimony of ProfeiTor Robifon, and Abbe Barruel, would doubtlefs have been con- fidered as ample, in any cafe which did not intereft the prejudices and paflions of men againft them. The fcurriiity and odium with which they have been loaded is perfectly nat- ural, and what the nature of their teftimony would have led any one to expect. Men will • endeavor to invalidate that evidence v/hich
A2
6 Proofs of the Exifrcnce
tends to unveil their dark defigns : and it can* not be expected that thofe who believe that ''- the end fan6i:ilies the means," will be very Scrupulous as to their meafures. Certainly he \vas not, who invented the following charac- ter, and arbitrarily applied it to Dr. Robifon, Vs^hich might have been applied with as much propriety to any other perfon in Europe or America. The character here referred to, is taken from the American Mercury, printed at Hartford, Sept, 26, 1799, by E. Babcock. In this paper, on the pretended authority of Pro feiTor Ebeling,* we are told, " That Robifon had lived too faft for his income, and to fup- ply deficiencies, had undertaken to alter a bank bill ) that he v/as detected, and fled to France ; that liaviiiiT been exnelled the Lodo;e in Edin- burgh^ he applied in France for the fecond grade, but was refufed y that he made the Hime attempt in Germany, and afterwards isi
* It Is but juRIce to the charn^^ler of Profe/Ibr Ebeling,- to (dj^ that in none of his Letters to his American Ccr- rcfpondent?, of which T have information, h/as he given the Icafl intimation that ProfefTor Robifon was guilty of tlie crimes here imputed to him. Nor has he, to my knowledge, ever criminated his moral character. Thcle bafe columnies originated, not from Mr. Ebeling, but from a fplrit of malignant oppofition to Dr. Robifon ; and they furnifh (Irong evidence of the truth of hi^s \M"i lings.
and Effeds of llltmlnTfm, *j
Ruflla, but never fucceeded ; and from this entertained the bittereft hatred to mafonry ; that after wandering about Europe, for two years, by writing to Secretary Dundas, and prefenting a copy of his book, which, it was judged, would anfwer certain purpofes of the miniflry, the proiecution againft him was (lop- ped, the ProfeiTor returned in triumph to his country, and now lives upon a handfome pen- fion, inflead of fuffering the fate of his preda- ceflbr Dodd.'"
A writer, in the National Intelligencer^ of Jan. 1801, who flyles himfelf " A friend to Truth," and from whom, (if conjedure has pointed out the real author) better things ought to have been expeded, fpeaks of Dr. Robifon as " a man diftinguijQied by abjed dependence on a party ; by the bafe crimes of forgery, and adultery ; and by frequent pa» roxyiims of infanity.'*
As Dr» Robifon is a principal evidence in the caufe now pending, it will be necelTary to inquire, whether this is indeed a juft view of the man. The refult of this inquiry, contraft- ed with the above charader, will ferve to give the public fome idea of the means which have been made ufe of to difcredit Illuminifm, and
2 Proofs of the Exifience
how benevolently difpofed fome among us afe^ to prevent their countrymen from being mif- led by what are called, the ridiculous reveries of Robifon. The reader's patience, it is feared, will be exhaufted by the detail of credentials which the effrontery of his accufers have ren- dered neceflary ; but the chara6ler of a wit- nefs is of the firft importance. The follow- ing fl^etch of the principal events of the life of Dr. Robifon, was drawn up from authen- tic documents, received dire6l from Edin= burgh, through a refpedabie channel.*
" The father of the Profeffor, a refpeclable country gentleman, intended him for the church, and gave him eight years of an Uni- verfity education at Glafgow. Prefering a different profefiion, he accepted an o5er of go- ing into the Navy, with very flattering prof- peds. He was appointed Mathematical In- ilru6lor to his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York. In that oiHce, he accordingly entered the Navy in February, 1759, being that day
* Concerning the fads contained in this hiilorical fketch, which were communicated to Dr. Erikine, he writes thus. *' The moft Important fadts in it I liave had acceis to know, being firft fettled at Kirkintillock, the neighbouring parifh to Boderoch, where hiy the eftate of his worthy father. For the few fiicts of which I know kfo; full and unexceptionable vouchers can be produced."
and Effeds of lUuminifni» 9
twenty years old. He was prefent at the fiege of Quebec. With the late Admiral Knowles, he was particularly connected, and his fon, afterwards captain Knowles, one of the moft promifing young officers in the Britifli Navy, was committed to his charge.
In 1761, he was fentby the board of Admi- ralty, to make trial of Harrifon's Watch at Ja- maica. At the peace of 1763, he returned to College. In 1764, he was again appointed by the Admiralty to make trial of Harrifon's improved Watch at Barbadoes ; but his pat- ron. Lord Anfon, being dead, and the condi- tions not fuch as pleafed him, he declined the employment, returned again to College, and took under his care the only remaining fon of his friend. Sir Charles Knowles. This fon is the prefent Admiral Sir Charles Knowles. In 1770, Sir Charles was invited by the Emprefs of Ruffia to take charge of her Navy. He took Mr. Robifon with him as his Secretary. In 1772, Mr. Robifon was appointed fuperin- tendant of the education in the Marine Caflet Corps, where he had under his direclion about 500 youth, 350 of wliom were fons of noble- men and gentlemen, and 26 mailers in the dif- ferent {Indies. The Academy being burnt, Mn Robifon, with his pupils, removed to ?,u
lo Proofs of the Exiflence
ancient palace of Peter the Great at Cronftadt,^ a moft miferable, defolate iiland, where, find- ing no agreeable fociety, he availed himfelf of the firft opportunity, of quitting fo unpleafant a fituation, and accepted an invitation from, the Magiftrates of Edinburgh, to the Profef- forfliip of Natural Phiiofophy in the Univer- fity in that city, which ranks among the firft Univerfities in the v/orld. To this very hon- orable office he acceded in Auguft, 1774, and from that time continued his lectures, without interruption, till 1792, when illnefs obliged him to afk for an afTiftant. To enable him to give fuch a falary to his affiftant, as would make the place worth the acceptance of a man of talents, the King v/as pleafed to give him a peniion of ;^. 100 a year. After five years con- finement, by a painful diforder, he refumed his chair, in 1797-
In 1 786, he wao ele<9:cd a member of the Phi- lofophical Society at Philadelphia, of which Mr. Jefferfon is Preiident \ and in 1797, a mem- ber of the Royal Society of Manchefter. In 1799, after the publication of his book, the Univerfity of Glafgcw, where he received his education, conferred on him, unfoiicited, the honor of a Doctor's degree in Law, in which, contrary to the ufual cuftom in thefe cafes, is given'-a very particular and flattering account of -
cind EffeBs of lllumlnifnu 1 1
ills nine years ftudies in that Univerfity. This peculiar evidence of efteem and refpecl was given in this way, in order that his Diploma might have all the civil confequences which long ftanding could give. When he publifli- €d his book, in 1797, he was Secretary of the .Royal Society of Edinburgh. In April, 1800, without folicitation of a iingle friend, he was unanimoufly elected a Foreign Member (there are but fix) of the Imperial Academ.y of Sci- ences, at St. Peteriburg, (which, in point of reputation, is efteemed the third on the con- tinent of Europe) in the room of the much lamented and highly celebrated Dr. Black, To prepare for the prefs, and fuperintend the publication of the Chemical writings of this great man, required the ableft Chemift in Great Britain. This diftinguifhed honor has been conferred on ProfelTor Robifon, who has undertaken this important work. This ap- pointment, for which no man perhaps is more competent, together with the numerous, learn- ed, and copious articles which he has furnifli- cd for the Encyclopedia Brittanica, fully evince that in reputation and folid learning, he ranks among the firft literary characters in Europe. Add to all this, hefujlains a moral charader^ fo fair and unbleniifhed, that any man mayfafely be
Tt
Proofs of the Exijlencc
challetiged to lay any thing to his charge of which an bonefi man need he afhamed^
The following account of Profeffor Robi- fon, is from a Work, entitled " Literary Me- moirs of Living Authors of Great Britain, &c.*' in two volumes, 8vo. publiflied in Lon- doDj 1798, for R. Faulder ;
" John Robifon, Efq. M. A. Secretary to the Royal Society at Edinburgh, and Profef- for of Natural Philofophy in the Univerfity. Profeffor Robifon is diftinguiflied for his ac- curate and extenfive knowledge, efpecially on fubjecls of fcience. He contributed to the Encyclopedia Brittanica the valuable articles, Phylics, Pneumatics, PrsecelTion of the Equi- noxes, Projediles, Pumps, Refiftance of Flu- ids, River, Roof. Rope making. Rotation, Seamanlhip, Signals, Sound, Specific Gravity, Statics, Steam, Steam-Engine, Strength of Materials, Telefcope, Tide, Articulating Trum- pet. Variation of the Compafs, and Water- Works, alfo Philofophy, in aflociation v^dth Dr. Gleig.
In the autumn of the year 1797, Profeffor Robifon publifhed an o6lavo volume, entitled <' Proofs of a Confpiracy, &c/' This volume
and Efficls of llliimimfiiu i -:
has been favorably received, and although too hafty a performance for a work of fo much confequence, is well entitled, both from its fubjccl: and its authenticity, to the feri- ous attention of every reader. It arrives at the fame remarkable conclufion as the cele- brated Memoirs of the AbbeBarruel, illuflrat- ing the hiilory of Jacobinifm, though the au- thors were perfec1:ly unconneaed with each other, and purfued their inquiries in very dif- ferent ways. It has raifcd (we are forry for fuch an appearance) a confiderable clamor and enmity againfl the Profefibr ; though it v/as written, Vv^e are fully convinced, froiii the beil of motives. We cannot conclude this article without obferving that the principles, and Iioneft zeal, which ProfelTor Robifon has dif- played upon this occafion, are highly credita- bie to him, and merit the warmeft acknowl- edgements from fociety in general"
The following is an extract of a letter from one of the moft refpeclable literary cliaraders which Scotland has produced, dated March, 1800. The writer of this letter is now in America. I have not his leave to mention his name.
" ProfejQTor Roblfon's charaaer is fo well eftabliilied among thofe who know hiin beft^
14 F roofs of the Ex'iftence
that it would be ridiculous, at Edinburgh, to pall. in Queftion his veracity or ability. I had read many of bis authorities in the German crigim^k before his hook was puhJifned ; and the firft notice I received of it Vv-^as, in the preface to Dr. ErfKine's Iketches of ecclefiaftical hiftory, where you will fee the honorable teftimony that he gives Mr. Robifon, and the great ex- pectation that he had from his pubUcatio.n."
The Rev. Dr. Erikine, whofe characler i$ generally known, and refpccled in America, and who is a neighbor to Dr. Robifon, in a letter, dated Edinburgh, September 25, 1800, fays, " I think highly of .Frofeffor Robifon's .book. Some of ihe mofl {hocking facts it contains, I knew before its publication, from a periGdictil account of the church hit- tory of the times, by Frofeffor JCoeiler at Gieiien., of v/hich I lent him all the numbers relating to that fubjed. For three years, that valuable work has been difcontinued, whether from the artificec of Illum/mati bookfellers,, to prevent its fale and fpread, or from the au- 4:hor's bad h<^alth.p I know not."
In a fubfequent letter, of June 13, 1801, :^peaking of the forementioned criminations 0 Dr. Robifon's characfler^ which have been
and EffcBs cf Ilhmnnijm, 1 5
circulated in America, the Dr. fays, " Had they been fent to Edinburgh, for their palpa'-
BLE FALSEHOOD, they would have been defpif-- ed and detejied''
Tn the appendix to the Centurial Sermon of Dr. Dwight, Prefident of Yale College, pub- lilhed Jan. 7, 1801, is an atteftation to the characler of Profeffor Robifon, taken front a letter of Mr. J. Walker, a refpeclable inhab- itant of Great Britain, to Profeffor Eoettiger, of Weimar in Germany ; publillied in the Mercury of that city, April, iSco'^. *^ It was written inaniwerto fonre very fevere afper- iions on Mr. Robifon, by Mr, Boettiger ; and fiich was the cliaracler of the writer, and fach the weight of his tcitimony, that Mr. Boettiger amply, as well as honorably, re- tracted his afperllons.^' P^eferiiig to the ex- alted character he had given of Dr. Robifon, he fliys, '' Nor is this the exaggerated praife of a friend ; no one who knows Mr. Robi- fon, as r have knov/n him, and he is almoll univerfilly known in Britain, will dare to aili it in queftion."*
* I have further evidence on this fitbje<fl:j but I con- ceive it needlefs to introduce it. What is laid before ths reader is more tlian fufncient to efcabliih Dr. Robifon's characler. It adds no fmall weight to his opinion \ and
1 6 Proofs of the Extjience
The characler of the Abbe Barruel, fo far as it refpecls his credibility as a witnefs, I be- lieve has not been impeached. The honeft warmth, apparent in every part of his cele- brated work, renders it difficult for us to doubt his fmcerity, whatever opinion we may form of his judgment. If the fervor of his 2eal has hurried him into a raih cenfure, or an unwarrantable conclufion, does not the f.ime fervor compel us to refoed him as a writer, who felt the truth and importance of his fabjecl ? Shall we condemn him becaufe he v/rites with the ardor of the mofl: exqui- fite feelings ? How could he but feel, when he faw the religion and government which he loved, demoliihed, and the country, above all others dear to him, converted into a field of carnage, and bleeding at every pore, pierc- ed with the daggers of men, who " owed their greatnefs to their country's ruin V His attachment to principles not admitted in America, has doubtlefs weakened the im- preilions v/hich his tcflimony ought to have
alTords us a degree of aflbrance, that what he has pub- liflied upon the fubject of Illumhiifm, is neither vifionaiy nor trifling. The reputation he had acquired in the liter- ary world, forbids us to fuppofe that he w^ould have added his name to fuch a publication, uulefs convinced that the fads lie dates, and atteils, were important and \v=U au- thenticated.
and Efecls of Illunilnlpn. 17
itiadc. . While we Lear him pleading in fup- port of fentiments in religion, which in our view are abfurd ; advocating a government, which we confider as tyrannical; and denounc- ing focieties as dangerous, of which we our- felves, perhaps, are innocent members, we nat- urally conned the abiurdity of thefe fenti- ments, with the fafts adduced in their fup- port. It is an obvious remark, that the value of thefe Memoirs confiR's, not in the religious or political opinions, but in the important fads, they contain. Thefe appear, generally, to be ftated with great accuracy, and with a ilrid regard to truth ; and from thefe, the author candidly invites us to judge for our- felvesv As became an honefl man, together with his opinion, he has given us the fa6i3 and circumilances upon which- that opinion was founded ; leaving the reader to corred'^ if he fee caufe, his too haity judgment.
That the Abbe, by making his own fenti^-- ments the ftandard in politics and religion, has cenfured fome perfons whom proteilants and republicans would juilify, is not to be denied ; but has he aflerted any thing as a fad, w^ithout flaiing carefully the evidence upoii which his opinion was founded?
£ 2
1 3 Proofs of the Exiflcnce-
It is obvious that the teftimony of tliefe %vnters is greatly Rrengthened by its remark- able coincidence. It appears that Dr. Robi- fon's work was publiihed juft as the third volume of the Abbe's Memoirs was going to tlie prefs, and preciiely in thofe circumftances, which mull have prevented either of them from fuggefting to the otlier, either the plan of their propofed publications, or the princi- pal authorities by which they are authenti- cated. The remarkable difference which ap- pears in thefe two writers with refpect to their methods of arranoino-, and communi- eating their thoughts ; their very different ideas of religious and political truth ; the ob^ fcurity v^^ilch, from the nature of it, at- tendeci the fubject ; tlie many remote circum- fiances with vWiich it was connecled, and ef- pecially the different plans they purfue ; Dr. Robifon combining, in one paragraph, what Ills m.emory compiled from m.any, while the Abbe, as he declares, " never made a quota- tion but with the original before him ; and when," fliys lie, " I make a tranflation which may ftagger the reader, I fubjoin the original, that each may explain and verify the text ;" thefe things taken into view, a greater degree of harmony could not be expected from any
and EffeHs of lUuminifm, ' 19
two hiftorians relating events of equal mag- nitude.*
But we have to encounter ilill more for- midable oppofition than any which has yet appeared, and that is Profeilor Ebeling's letter to his correfpondent in MaiTachu- fetts, and publiihed in the Worcefter Gaz- ette, October 9, 1799. This letter appears to have been coniidered, by fome, as contain- ing plenary evidence againil the veracity of Dr. Robiion, and the credibility of his book. But, had not this letter been read with the flime hafie and eagernefs with which it ap- pears to have been written, certainly fo much importance would not have been attached to it.
* The following teftimony, in favor of the authenticity of the works in queftion, is from a late lefpeclable writer.
" The rife and progrefs of Jacoblnifrii, which feems to Include every fpecies of Infidelity, have been exam- ined with indudry, and difplayed with corre«5Enefs, by the Abbe Barruel and ProfciFor Robifon. The faifls brought forward in fupport of their a/Iertions, have baf- fled the ingenuity of Jacobinifm itfelf to difprove. And thefe fadls have clearly fliown, that a confplracy was a<5tu- ally formed for the extindicn of Chridianity, and the abolition of government and focial order, by a fet of men whofe names demand the execration of mankind." Kett, ou Prophecy, Lond, edition, 1800, Vol. II, p. 119,
2 a Proofi of the Exif,cnc3^
Upon reading this letter we naturally" recoiled an obfervation made by Profeffor Renner, one of the witneiTes from whom the public received the firft difclofure of the Illu- minated focieties. " There are men ;" fays he, " who defend the order with great warmth, though they do not declare them- fclves to belong to it. Such condud cer- tainly deferves a little animadverdon. Either thefe defenders belong to the order, or they do not ; if they do not, can they pretend to defend that which they neither know, nor have any poflibility of knowing ? If they be- long to the order, that very circumftance renders them unworthy of belief."* The propriety of this remark will imprefs the' reader more forcibly, when he is better ac- quainted with the arts by which the Illuminees conceal themfelvss from the public.
The great ilrefs which has been laid upon this letter, and the ufe which has been miade of it, will j'uftify our bellowing on it particu- lar attention.
It may be of fome importance to recoiled, that Mr. Ebeiing has acknowledged that it.
* Barrucl's Memoirs, Vol. '^^\ y* 149.
and Effects of lUumlmfnu i \
was written in hafte, and was, confequently, inaccurate. It was unfortunate that this in- formation was not communicated, as ufual, at the clofe of the letter, where it might have been ufeful to guard ils againft placing too much dependence on a hafty and inaccu- rate performance ; but it was given in a fub- fcquent letter, after being informed that the previous one had been made public. Though this apology came too late for us, it may be ufeful to the Profellbr, and afford him a retreat, fhould fome of his many con- fident declarations, hereafter appear to be founded in error.
Mr. Ebeling confiders Dr. Robifon's mif- reprefentations, as the refult of wicked inten- tion ; fpeaks of him as "an Englijh hired ^ mimf- ferial writer ;" and tells us, " his book is cer- tainly a party work, and not without -impolitic' al deftgn.'' In another part of the fam.e letter he afcribes Robifon's mifreprefentations to his' ^'' great ignorance of men^ manners^ and hifiory^ and of German c/baraders^ and language in partic- ular." Perhaps Mr. Ebeling can reconcile thefe two contradictory caufes of the fame ef- fed. The talk is beyond my ability. From thefe very different reprefentations, I can obtain no idea but this abfurd one, that Dr,
2 2 Proofs of the Exijlenre
R obifon was hired by the Britifli minlftry, to give fuch a v/rong view of tilings as would ferve their political purpofes : that he under- took the talk, and by the luckieft miftake flumbled upon that very fpot at which he was aiming, and which, had it not been for his grols ignorance of men, manners, and hiilory, of Germian characters, and language, he proba- bly never would have attained. Let this form. a new item among the advantages of igno- rance.
But we have more important remarks to make upon this celebrated letter, Mr. Ebel- ing fpeaks of the exiilence of Illuminifm in Germany, as a matter of public notoriety • but,. to prefer ve the impremoR of its harmlefs na- ture, he fays of the Uluminees,. '' tlieir deiiga was undoubtedly to prevent political and religious cpprelTion ;" and with a particuhir reference to Weiiliaupt, the grand projector of Illuminifm, further adds,, "he was, as I fun- pofe commonly llom.an Catholics are, when they fee the errors of faperftition, and know nothing of the proteftant faith, or truerelig- ion, at a Icf what to fuhjlltutc:' Weilhaupt then, it is confeifed, wiihed to deflroy the bed rehgion he was acquainted with. He confid- ered popery as the religion of the Bible., and
and Effecls of Illimilnifm, 23
tills was hateful fuperftitioa. It appears, there- fore, from this flatement of his Apologiil, tliat he would have fpared no religion, for ia his view there Vv'-as no fubftitute for popery. The reader will ohferve, that Weidtaupt was a Profeflbr in an Univcrfity, and diilinguiflied for his literary acquirements : that he had framed many new fyftems of Chriflianity- to (deceive his adepts ; that Germany abounded v/ich proteilants of every denomination, but {till there was no religion to his tafte, no fub- ,|^:itute for popery,
Mr. Ebeling alfo acknowledges that Weifli- aupt, " in his younger life, was guilty oi great de'viaiiQiu from pure morality^'' but in the fame paragrapji in which he gives us this view of his moral char.a<5ler^ and in the fame paragraph -in which he acknowledges, that Weifliaupt could fmd no .religion in all Germany, nor in the Bible, better than popery, which he hatcdj and was endeavoring to overturn ; Mr. Ebel- ing difplays his invincible charity by adding, " but I am.not convinced that he (Weifliaupt) was ever ii.i theory.^ or pn.icriCE^ an enemy to rclig' ion! I'' Left the reader fhould not extend that charity to Mr. Ebeling, of which he himfelf is fo liberal, it may be neceiliiry here to remind him.^ tl>at the Frofeflbj: wrote in halle. In the
24 Proofs of the Exiflence
confuiion of his thoughts he muft have loft the impreilion which V/eifhaupt's charader had formerly made upon his mind, and in the hur- i-y of the moment, he marked the tjifuiel and the debauchee^ for a ckrifiian ; for nothing lefs can he be who never w^as, " either in theory or pradice, an enemy to religion.'*
One great difadvantage, indeed, refults from this exuberance of the Profefibr's hafty chari- ty, for who can aflure us, that he has not equally miilaken the many other characters^ he introduces into his letter ? This confidera- tlon mull diminiili that fund of correal infor- mation, which fome imagine they poflefs in this long epiftle, and leave us room to doubt, at leaft, whether Dn Robifon %vas fo very igiio^ rant of men and manners as he is rcprefented.
But will not this letter aCift us in attaining fomething beyond probabilities and conject- ure ? Mr. Ebeling has faid much to difcredit the other authorities to which Dr. Robifon occafionally recurs for proof; but I fmd noth- ing to UTaken the evidence refulting from the teflimony of the four very refpeclablc witneff- es, given under oath, refpecling the practices of the Ilium inees ; nor, as far as I am able to afcertaitty does he cxprefs a doubt refpecting
and Effects of llluminijnu 25
the writings, letters, and documents, found in the hands of thq Society on the fearch made in confequence of the teiiimony abovemen- tioned. Here we have the code of the Socie- ty, their private correfpondence, and their own rernarks upon the nature and defign of the inftitution ; thefe are admitted to be genuine ; and on thefe, as their proper ba- ils, Robifon and Barruel raife their fuper- flruclure. Have we not here a clue, which will lead us out of this labyrinth of difcordant opinions r Let us examine carefully, the ground on which we (land.
It is agreed, that a Society of Illuminees ex- ifted in Germany, inftituted by Weiiliaupt, abvout the year 1776. It is agreed, that the papers found in the poiTeilion of Counfellor Zwack, in 1786, and thofe found in the Caftle of Sanderdorf, in 1787, on fearch made by or- der of his Highnefs the Eledor of Bavaria, are authentic documents, drawn up by the Illu- minees, expreiling the plan and object of the order. It is agreed, that the object of this in- flitution is the overthrow of all religion, and all government. No ; — this, though ftrange- ly afferted by Meilrs. Robifon and Barruel, Mr. Ebeling denies. To determine on which fide the truth lies, we mull appeal to the pa- c
2 6 Proofs of the Esijjence
pers wlilch are admitted to be authentk, and from them }udg;e for ourfelves what were the real view? of the Illuminees. By attacking every other witnefs in the caufe, Mr. Ebeling, by his filence, concerning the papers, has im- " plicitly acknowledged their truth and validity.
The reader is here reminded, that the quef- tion to be determined is not, whether Iliu- minifm had an exiftence ; this is admitted: Nor whether it exifted as an organized body, poiFeffing its code of laws, and defmite mode of operation ; for Mr. Ebeling himfelf inforni$ us, that the Illuminees were inflituted, or formed into a body, about 1776. Nor is it a queilion whether this order of men had any thing in view beyond their own amufement, for the fame advocate of their caufe obferves. " that their delign undoubtedly v/as, to pre- vent political and religious oppreiTion." But the important quefdon to be determined is, v/hether this com.bination of men had not a liigher objecl ? whether their ultimate aim ^vas not the fubveriion of every focial, moral, and religious obligation ? Taking this for our object, it will be needlefs to introduce into this work tha.t part of the evidence above re- jPerred to, which relates particularly to the fub- Tcrfion of the Romifb hierarchy and defpot-
and Effects cf lllumimfnu 2 7
ii\'ii, or political and religious oppreffion ; for all acknowledge that thefe were aimed at by the confplracy. Our prefent concern is, with that part only of thefe writings which relates to the principal queftion, and is calculated to prove, that the Iliuminees were oppofed to the fundamental principles of all religion, and fe- cial order.
The i^bbe Barruel's Memoirs comprehend 1 larger period of time than Dr. Robifon's work ; his arrangements are more fyllemat- i'cal, and he traces the evil to its fource ; his method, without, however, being confined to it, will be principally follov/ed.
The Abbe. Barruel's plan Includes,
Fin!:. The AntUchriJiian Confplracy^ or that Qi the Sophifters of impiety againft Chriftiani- ty, under every form and denomination.
Secondly.. The Ami'Mmarchical Confplracy, This part will be omitted in the following w^ork, as unconneded w^ith the queflion in view, and becaufe it is- involved in the
Third, or Anti'Soclal Confplracy^ in which the fophifters of impiety, coalefce with the fophifters of Anarchy againft every religion,;
s8 Froofs of the Ex'ijlenee
aMid every government, under the denomin- ation of llluminees ; and, thefe again unite themfelves with the occult Lodges of Free Ma- fons, and thus form the club of the Jacobins at Paris, v/ho are the real directors of the French Revolution, This third part embraces the fubjed of the Confpiracy of which Dr. Robifon treats ; and is more particularly in* terefling in our prefent inquiry.
The evidence adduced in proof of the Anti'^ Chr'iftian Cojzfpiracy^ are the writings of th^ Confpirators themfelves ; efpecially the Edi^ tion of Voltaire's Works, by Beaumarchis, Thefe Works, it appears, were publifhcd when the fentiments they contain, were no longer confidered as infamous in France.*
* The prooFs of the Anti-Social Confpiracy will be noticed in connexion with that part of the fubjed to which they relate. The reader will not expeft to find, in this work, the particular references of the larger work, tran- fcrihed ; except v/here fome authority, not before mention- ed, is introduced. This would be needlefs, as the few, who wouldwifh to recur to the original authorities^may find eve- ry neceffary reference in the tranflation of Barruel's Me- moirs, printed at Hartford, by Htidfon and Goodwin, 1799 j and in the fourth Edition of Robifon's Proofs, &c. printed at New- York, by George Forman, in 1799 ; which are the Editions made ufe pf in formuig this ahilra(^.
and Effects of llliminlfnu 29
The Author of thefe Memoirs declares It to be the important and friendly defign of his undertaking, to warn governments and man- kind of their danger, by proving to them, that the French Revolution, in all the circum- ilances of horror which attended it, was the natural refult of the principles from which it proceeded ; and Xh^it fnmlar principles will pro- duce fimilar effects. Left any^ confiding in their leagues of amity with France, and her pro- fefiions of friendiliip, fhould imagine the warning ncedlefs with refpecl to themfelves, he again founds the alarm. Let America. hear !.
" When the phantom of peace iliallfeem to^ terminate the prefent war, between the Jaco- bins and the combined powers, it certainly will be the intereft of all governments to afcertain how far fuch a peace can be relied on. At that period, more than any other, will it be ne- ceffary to ftudy the fecret hiftory of that feci 5 at that period v/e mufi: remember, that it is not in the field of Mars that the w^ar a2:ain{l feels is the- moil dangerous ; that is a w^ar of plots and confpiracies, and againll them public treaties can- never avail."*
"^^ ^i-I'r. ' .-e, Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. I,
30 F roofs of the Exijlence
CHAP. I.
The Actors^ Exlflence^ OhjcB^ and Secret of the Conffiracy^
Phenomena of the moft aftonifhing
nature have, within a few years paft, arretted the attention of mankind. Manners, and the fiate of fociety, have undergone a revolution which lias appeared to extinguiili, in many, everv natural affedion, and to transform the mofc civilized and poliilied, into the moil fe- rocious of men. The beil eftabliihed principles of natural and revealed religion, and the very foundations of moral and focial duty, obliga- tions never before controverted, have been attacked by an hoft of enemies. A Hood of infidelity has deluged the greater part of the Chriftianized world, threatening to fweep a- way every veflige of Chriftianity. And may it not be faid, almoft without a metaphor, that by an horrid Anti-Chridian regeneration, a nation of Atheifls have been born in a day ?
and EffeBs of llluminifm* 31
Thefe are plain fa6ls ; and they demand the mod ferious attention of mankind. It is not by framing fanciful theories, but by carefully tracing effects to their caufes, that we acquire ufeful knowledge and experience. Some ad- equate caufe, there muft have been, of this mighty mifchief. Whence fhall we date its origin ? To what ftiali we afcribe its rife and progrefs ? In anfwer to thefe queries we pre- fume to fay, that however acceffary other caufes may have been, the principal caufe is to be found in the following hiflorical abftrad.
About the middle of the laft century there appeared three men, leagued in the moil in- veterate hatred againft Chriftianity, Volt aire the Chief, D'Alembert, diflinguifhed for his fubtilty, and Frederic II. King of PruiHa ; to which number was afterwards added Di- derot, whom, probably on account of his frantic impiety, the hillorian chara^lerifeSj the forlorn hope.
The neceffary brevity of this work will not permit us to defcend to a particular view of their feveral characters, yet the firfl of thefe confpirators is fo diftinguiflied in this work, and in the literary world, as to juilify a more particular attention.
^1 T roofs of the Exyhnce-
Voltaire, the fon of an ancient notaiy of tlie Chatelet, was born at Paris, February 20^ 1694. His original name was Mary Francis Arouet, which, through vanity, he changed to Voltaire, as more fonorous, and more con- formable, to the reputation at which he aimed. He was eminently diftinguiflied for his abili- ties, and for his thirft of dominion over the literary world. His talents, however, were more brilUant than folid, lefs fitted for deep inveftigation, but eminently calculated to a- mufe and captivate. He pofLeiTed all thofe paffions which render abilities dangerous; and, unhappily, his appeared to^be all early devoted to the overthrow of religion.- While a Itu^ dent,. he received the following prophetic re- buke from his FtofeiTor : " Unfortunate young , man, you will one day come to be the llandr- ard bearer of infidelity."*
After leaving the College he aiTociated witlii men of abandoned morals ; and having given ■ offence to the French government by fome fa- tirical effays, he fought an afylum in England,. There he firft conceived the defign of overv throwing religion, by blending Philofophy with Impiety, Condoixetj his adept, his confident^,,
* Life of Voltaire, Edit, of Kell.
and EfcSls of llluminifnu 33
his hlflorian, and panegyrift, afferts in pofitlve
terms, " There it was that Vcltaire /wore to ded^ icate his life to the accomplftoment of that projed ; and he has kept his word*"^
On his return to Paris, about the year i j^)^, he became fo open in his defigns, and fo fan- guine in his hopes, that Mr. Herault, the lieu- tenant of Police, remarked to him, " T^ou may
do or write what you pleafe^ you will never be able to dejlroy the Chriflian religion,'' Voltaire, with- out hefitation, anfwered, " That is what we fjallfee.'^f
While he yet flattered himfelf with the hopes of enjoying, alone, the whole glory of deftroying the Chriftian religion, (though he foon found that affociates would be necelTary) ^^ I am weary/' he would fay, ^' of hearing people repeat, that twelve men have beefi firfficient to eftablifh Chriftianity , and I will prove that or^ may fnffice to overthrow it^'\
Frederic alfo, dignified among the fophif- ters, with the title of " the Solomon of the North," and by the hiftorian with the epithet of " The Great," claim.s, even in this brief
-^ Life of Voltaire, Edit, of KelL t Ibid, % Ibid.
34 Proofs of the Exiflence
fketcb, a more particular notice. To expreis his contrary, and almoft irreconcileable quali- ties, we find him painted a double man, exhib- iting two diftincl and oppoiite characters. In QViQ, view of him, we fee the hero, and the father of his people, giving life to agriculture and commerce ; in another, the fophifter, the philofophical pedant, the confpirator againfi Chriftianity. The contradictions in his char- after are tranfcribed in his letters ; at one time, extolling, in glowing terms, the morality of the gofpel ; and at another, aflerting, that Chriftianity fields none but pofonous weed's^^
6C
There can be no doubt, however, that" Frederic united cordially, as he did early, with, the enemies of religion. Even at that carlv age, when he was only Prince- Royal, in his cor- reipondence with Voltaire, he had adopted the- itylc of the modern Philoiopher ; for he thus writes, '^ To fpeak with my ufual freedom, I muft naturally ov/n, that whatever regards the God made man^ difpleafes me in the mouth of a Philofopher, who fhould be above popular er- ror. We may fpeak of fables, but merely as fables ; and a profound filence, in my opinion,, iliould be kept, concerning thofe fables of the:
and Effects of lUiimin[fi)u 35
Chriitians, fanclified by time and the credulity rf ilic abfurd and R.upid,"*
But what did this boafted wifdom avail I While foaring, in imagination, far above .their fellow mortals, we fee them in the fame £tuation in which every pcrfon will find him- felf, who relinquiflies the guiding light of Revelation, wandering in the wild ernefs with- out a path, and without a compafs. " Is there .a God fuch as he is faid to be ? A foul fuch as is imagined ? Is there any thing to be hoped for after this life ?" Thefe queftions, the com^ fort able fruits of infidelity, were propofed by yoltaire to D'Alembert ; to which he anfwers, with the fame admirable philofophic wifdom, that " Bo^ in miCtaphyfics, appeared to him not much v/ifer than yt'j ; and that non liquet (it is not clear) vvas generally the only rational
* As Frederic Is another of Mr. Ebeling's Chriftians, who, he Ir.timates, died in the hope of a better life, I beg leave to introduce a Ihort ^fketch of his character,' dra\Yn by a fkilful, and apparently, impartial pen. " Moft unjnft- ly (fays the writer) is he ftyled great ; a philofophical .monarch, the nio-fl: defpotic, perhaps, who ever exifted, but who has contributed more to the difTolution of fociety, by cvrrupting the principles and morals of all within the fphere of his innuence, than any individual of his time. See Appendix to Vol. 6, of Anti-Jacobin Review, p. 565,
36 Proofs of the Ex'ijience
anfwer."* Who would not give up the Bible for the honor and comfort of being fo nobly and philofophically bewildered ?
Senlible that the individual infidelity of thefe perfons did not conilitute a confpiracy againft Chriftianity, without a union and cor- refpondence in the attack, the hiftorian has furniflied us with the proofs of fuch a confed- eracy, in which their efforts, and thofe of their adepts, appear combined and fteadily pointed to the accompiifliment of their grand object. To this objecl they direcled and ftimulated each other by a watchword, ftrikingly expreif- ive of their rancorous enmity to the Saviour, ecrafez /' infame ! cnijh the wretch. But could this mean Chrift, and that adorable religion preached by him and his apoftles ? What other interpretation can we annex to the phrafe in the mouth of a man, who, in his intrigues ao-ainil " the wretch," exclaims, " Could not five or fix men of parts, and who rightly un- derftood each other, fucceed, after the exam- ples of twelve fcoundrels^ w^ho have already fuc- ceeded?" And who thus writes to D' Alembert, " Both you and Demilaville muft be well pleafed, to fee the contempt into which «' the
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. I. Chap. i.
and Jijfccls of lihimhufm* 37
wretch'* is iallen among the better fort of people tlirougliout Europe. They were all we wiflied for, or that were neceflary. We Fxever pretended to enlighten the liouiC maids, and fhoe makers ; v/c leave them to the apof- ties.''* The apoftles furely were neither Jefu- its nor Janfcniils ; tlieir only crime, in Vol- taire's view, doubtlefs was, attachment to their mafter and his caufe.
In the true flyle of confpirators, they had alfo their enigmatical language, and fecret ap- propriate names. The general term for the confpirators was Cacouac ; they fay one is a good Cacouac, when he can be perfectly de- pended on. In their correfpondence, Frederic is called Duluc ; Voltaire, Raton ; D'Alem- bert, Protagoras and Bertrand ; Diderot, Pla- to or Tamplot. Secrecy appears to have been . coniidered by them as effential to their fuccefs. Their Chief v/ould therefore often remind them that in the war they waged, '' they were to acl as confpirators, and not as zealots. Strike,^' he would fay, ^' hurl the Javelin, but hide your hand."
D
■■■ Bamiel's Meraoirs,. Vol. I. Cljat:. -i^
o
8 Proofs of the Exlftence
Voltaire had long before vented his rage againft Chriftianity, and been the oflicious de- fender of every impious publication \ but, a- bout 1752, when he returned from Berlin, the confpiracy aiTumed a regular form, and he, by his age, reputation, and genius, naturally became the chief. *^
* Bamiers Memoirs, Vol, I. Chap. 5.
and EffeSis cf llluminifm. 39
CHAP. il.
The Means ef the Coii/piraior:.
Established in the general procefs of undermining the Chriftian Edifice, and thus obliging it to fall of itfelf, as one powerful mean of efFetting this end 5 an Encyclopedia was projected by D'Alembert, and announced to the world, as a cciTiplete treafure of all hu- man arts and fciences. but v/hiclu in reality, was defigned to be the emporium of all the fophiQns and ca-lummies which had ever been invented againfl religion. This poifon, liovv- ever, was to be conveyed in the moft fecret and unfufpicious manner, and it was declared, that all the religious articles fhould be compil- ed by learned and orthodox divines. Particular care was taken in the com.pilation of the firil volume, not to alarm the friends of religion ; referving a clearer expreflion of their fenti^ ir.ents for iucceeding volumes-.
40 Proofs of the Ex'iflence
Among tlic many artful means adopted to communicate the fecret infection, one was, to infinuate error and infidelity, not where it would have been expelled, but into thofe arti- cles deemed the leaft fufceptible of them ; fiich as Hiilory, Natural Pliilofophy, and Chym- iftry.*
Another was that o^ references, by which, after being prefented with fom.e religious truths, the reader is invited to feek further information in articles of a different cafl:. Sometimes the reference would direcl; to an epigram, or farcafm. After having treated a religious fubiecl with all poiTible refpec^. It would be fimply added. See the article Frcju- dke^ or SiiperjTition^ or Fanaticifm.'\
The folio win rr may fcrve as a fpcclmen of the artful ufe of references, in this w^ork, for
* Mr. Paley, in his SyPcem of Moral Phllofophv, has noticed, and very juftly defcribed, the ftibtle arts of modern Impiety. " Infidelity is now fervcd up in every Ihape th:^t is hkely to allure, furprife or beguile the imagination ; in •a fable, a tale, a novA, a poemj in interfpcrfed and broken tiiuts 5 remote and oblique furm^fes ; in books of travels, of philofophy, of natural hiftory ; in a word, in any form rather than that of a profefled and regular difquifilion.'* Palcy, BoRon Edit. 1795, p- 302.
i Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. L Chap. x.
and Effed's of Illu?nlnif?iu 41
undermining religious truth. Under the ar- ticle God, you find found fcntiments, togeth- er with a direct and complete proof of his ex- iftence. From this the reader is referred to the article Demonftratioiu There ail direct demonflrations of the exiftence of God difap- pear ; and we are told, that a fmgle infed more forcibly proves the being of a God, than any other arguments whatever. But the rea-d- er is ftill referred to the article Corrupiloii. There it h aiferted, that daily experiments feem to prove, that " corruption may pro-- duce animated bodies." The reader is thus left to infer, if he plcafes, that the ftrongeil proof of the exiftence of a God is contradid- ed by daily experimentSa-
Notwithftanding all this art and conceal- ment, the work met with great oppofition, and was for a time fufpended. At lengthj however, it v/as completed, and all the adepts were loud in its praifes. The learned were duped* The work fold. Various editions were publifhed, and under the pretence of correct- ing, each fucceeding edition was m.ore highly charged v/ith infidelity.*
D2 * BarrueVs Memoirs; Vol, L Chap, 4. Note.
4 - F roofs of the Exijicfice
I'he Encyclopedia having prepared the way, was lucceeded by an attempt to overturn the religious orders. This ended in the fuppref^ iion of many of them, and in the expuihon of tlie Jefuits, in 1764. The artful movements^, by which tliis was effeded, are not fufficient- ly intcrelling. to claim a particular detail. Some, who appear to have been friendly to the Romiili eftablifliment, but not fuiScicntly confidering the connection between a church and its clergy, were drawn by thefe fophifters to countenance, and even promote the fuppref- lion of the religious orders ; and we fee thefe. confpirators riiiculing, in fecret, the fmiplicity of their dupes«*
Mankind were extremely deceived by the infmcere profeilxons of the confpirators. Noth- ing, perhaps, contributed more to their fuccefs than their pretenfions to tolcraiiony reafon^ and humanity. But nctwithdanding thefe high founding words, their fecret correfpondence betrays the fame fpirit which has fmce been exhibited in the revolution. Was it humanity which dictated to Voltaire his wifii, " to fee every Jefuit at the bottom of the ocean, with a Janfenift at his neck r" He was much en- gaged to deprive the ecclefiailical princes of
* Bar rucl's Memoirs, Vol. I. Chap. 5, 6,
ciid Effefis of Ilhiininlfjn, ,45^
their poffefTions, and the clergy of their meanis of fupport ) and exerted his influence, with Frederic, and the Duke of Praflin in particu- lar, for this end. Writing to Count Argenta.1 upon this fubjed, he lays, " Had I but an hun- dred thoufand men, I well know what I would do with them.'' Would he then preach toler- ation and humanity ? We may judge from his own expreffions what his views were. " It is noble, he writes to Frederic, to feoff at thefe ■ Harlequin Bull-givers. I hke to cover them with ridicule^ but Ibad rather plunder them,''^
Proteflants will perhaps confider the fuppref- Son of thefe orders as having no connection with the intercfts of religion ; but they were the great props of this cauie as it exifled in France ; v/ere aclive in withflanding the progrefs of infidelity, and their overthrow was undoubtedly, as it was viewed by thefe con- fpirators, of great importance to the comple- tion of their ultimate defign j the eflabliTnment of univerfal infidelity.
Wearied wiih the oppofition he met with in France, and the eonflant conflraint to which he was fubjected,. Voltaire projeded the cflablifK-
* BarrucVs Memoirs; Vol. I. Chap. io>
44 Proofs of the Exiftence
ment of a colony of Philofophers, at Cleves, under the jurifdiclion of Frederic, who might there, as he exprelTes his views, ''freely and bold- ly fpeak the truth, without fearing minifters, priefts, or parliaments.'" But this, though a favorite objecl with the projector, proved abortive. The confpirators were too much captivated with the pieafures of Paris, and the applaufe they found in the circles of their ad- mirers, to be fond of fuch a retirement ; and leaft of all, was it eligible, in company with Voltaire, whofe more fplendid genius would eclipfe his fatellitcs."*
But a more important attempt, met witii' different fucccefs. The higheft literary hon- or in France was a feat in the French Acad- emy, This inftitution, defigned to be both a ilimulus, and reward to literary merit, had enjoyed the fpecial favor and prote^flion of the kings of France ; and none but men of emi- nence in fome branch of literature, and who were viev/cd as friendly to morals and relig- ion, had been admitted as members. The tirtful D'Alcmbert concealed his infidelity un- til he had gained his feat. Voltaire was for a long time unable to gain admilTion, and-
* Barrucrs Memoir?; Vol.1. Chap. 7,
and EflBs of lllumlmpu 45
at length Only fucceeded by means of high protection, and that low hypocriiy which he recommended to his dilcipies.
The confpirators juftly eflimated the ad- vantao-cs which would refult to their erand objcd, by removing the difqualifying bar of inhdelity, and annexing to philofophifm the rcfpeclabiUty and influence of fuch an inftitu^ tion. Upon Voltaire and D'Alembert lay the ta&, of convening thefe dignified feats of fcience into the haunts of Atheifm. We may judge of their fuccefs, from the following an- ecdote. Mr. Beauzet, a memberof the acad- emy, refpeclable for his piety, when afked «ow he could ever have been alTociated with fuch notorious unbelievers ? " The very fame queftion,'' faid he, " I put to D'Alembert. At one of the fittings, feeing that Ivjas nearlj the only perfon zi'bo beUeved in God, I aiked him, hovv^ he poilibly could ever have thought of me for a member, when he knew that my fentim.ents and opinions differed fo widely from thofe of his brethren ? D'Alembert, without hefitatiox!, anfwered, " We were in want of a fsiiful grammarian, and among our party, not one had made himfelf a reputation in that line." It is almoO: needlefs to remark, that the re- wards of library merit were henceforthtranf-
46 Proofs of the Exijicnce
ferred to the advocates of impiety, while re- proach and infamy were profufely call upon thofe who efpoufed the caufe of truth.*
Their fucccfs in fccuring the Academy to themfelves, prepared the way for that variety of Anti-Chriftian writings, which of late have been {o widely diffeminated, and which have been pointed againft religion. Aftonifhing efforts were made to weaken the evidences of the Chriftian hiftory. The furface of the earth underwent a new furvey, and its bowels v/ere explored, not to promote the interefls of literature, which was the ofleniible objed, nor to obtain the pious pleafure which the good man feels in contemplating the v/orks of the Creator ^ butj.
" Some drill and bore
The folid earth, and from the ftrata there Extract a reglfter, by which we learn That he who made it and reveal'd ius date To Mofes, was miftaken in its age."
Yet then, as now, they who were alarmed by thefe Anti-Chriflian theories, and gave warn- ing of the danger, were held up to the public as weakly timid, ''• For what," it was impji-
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. L Chap. 8,
and Effeds of lllumhwnu 47
dently afked, " have philofophical treatlfes to do with religion r"
But while Voltaire faw the expediency, of what he calls, '•^ fojne ferkus luork^'' fome pub- lication which fhould have the femblance of reafon and philofophy, the weapon on whicli he principally depended, was ridicule. Deifls have long found this their beft mode of at- tack ; but the genius of Voltaire was pecu- liarly fruitful in anecdotes, jeds, and farcafms. " I only afk," he writes to D*Alembert, " five or fix witticifms a day, that would fuilice. It (meaning " the wretch") would not get the better of them. Laugh Democritus, make me laugh, and the fages Ihall carry the day."
But not content with engroffing literary hon- ors, the confpirators condefcended, at length, to enlighten thofe whom they had contemptu- oufly called the houfe maids and flioe makers. Writings, in every form and fhape, <:alculated to excite licentious delires, to deprave the moral tafte, to communicate the infedion of infidelity, and exhibit religion in a ridiculous view, were crov/ded upon the public.
Upon the commencement of the revolution, it appeared, by the confeffion of Le Roy, who
4:3 Proofs of the Exijlence
had been their fecretary, tliat a fociety, wlucli had exifted for a confiderable time, holding their meetings at the Hotel de Holbach, at Paris, under the name of Economifts, was com^ofed of thefe confpirators and their prin- cipal adepts ; and who, while profeffedly en« gaged in promoting economy, agriculture, and the ufeful arts, were more adively promoting the caufe of infidelity. A multitude of writ- ers were employed to prepare fuitable publica- tions. Thefe, previous to their going to the prefs, were fabjecled to the infpcclion of the fociety, whofe care it was to charge them witli a due proportion of the poifonous leaven they were defigned to diffeminate. To add refpeclabiiity to thefe writings, and conceal the author, the fociety appointed under what title they fliould be publiflied. For inftance, ^' Cbrijlianity Unveiled,'' was attributed to Bou- langer, after his death, but was the work of Demilaville.
Eleo-ant editions of thefe works were firft printed to defray the expenfe, and then an im- menfe number on the pooreft paper. Thefe latter, were diflributed in bales, free of coft, or at a very low price, to hawkers and pedlars, who would difperfc them through tlie coun- try, and left any fliould efcapc the infcftion^
nnd Efffch of lilumhufni, 49
clubs were formed^ and pcrfons lured to read tlicm to fucli as were ur.a blc to read.
Mr. Berlin, one of the French minlflry, de- clares, that in his excurfions into the country, he found the pecilars loaded with the writings of Voltaire, Diderot, and other philofophifts ; and that, qucftioning them how the country people could find money for fuch dear works, their conRant anfwer was, " We have them at a much cheaper rate than Frajcr Books ; we may fell them at ten fols (5.^/.) a volume, and have a pretty profit into the bargain 5 and m.any of themx owned that thefe books coft them nothing."
But the queflion in which we are principal- ly interefted is, whether it was the defign of thefe numerous publications to affecf any thing more than that deformed excrefcenceof Chrift- ianity, popery ? If it hasnot been made evi- dent that thefe writings were aimed, not at the abufes of Chriftianity, but at Chriilianity ilfclf, a view of the leading fen timents in thefe publications, mud remove every doubt.
Freret tells us exprefsly, that, " The God of the Jews, and of the Chriftians, is but a plian- ^.)•.n and chimera y^ and that, ^' all ideas of
t
50 T roofs of the Ex'y'lcnce
juftice and injuftice, of virtue and vice, are ar- bitrary, and dependent on cufconi.'*
The author of " Good ^eife^^ a work which D'Alembcrt wiilied to fee abridged, that it might be fold for f,vc pence to the poor and ig- norant, teaches, '' That the wonders of nature, fo far from befpeaking a God, are but the ne- .ceiiary efFc(3:s of matter, prodigiouily diverii- lied, and that the foul is a chimera."
The author of the " Doubts'^ tells mankind., " That they cannot know whether a God really exifts, or whether there cxifts the fmall» eil difference between virtue and vice."
Helvetius inform.s the fair fex, " That mod=- edy is only an invention of refined voluptu- oufne(^>/' He teaches children, " That ihe commandm.ent of loving their parents, is more the v/ork of education than nature ;" and the married couple, " That the law which condemns to live togjether, becomes barbarous a'nd cruel on the day they ceaie to love each other."
Tlie author of " Chviftianlt^ Un-vcilcd^' has this remark, " The Bible fays, the fear of the Lord is the beo-inninfT; of wifdom. I think it either the beginning of folly."
and EfftSIs of lUumlmfm. gt
But I fliall only add to this detail, joLvi Mcf lier^s Jnjl ivlll^ in which h« is rcprefentcd " on his death bed, imploring forgivenefs of his God for having taught Chriilianity ;" a work, of which Vokaire urges D'Alembert to print and diflribnte four or ^^^q thoufand copies ^ complaining " that there were not fo many in all Paris, as he himfelf had diflributcd through- out the mountains of Switzerland."*
The confpirators appear to have been avv^j-e of the importance of youth, and the advan- tage to be derived to their caufe, by an early imprefiion on tlie young mind. D*Alembert, lefs qualified to promote the views of the con- fpirators by his pen, attended more particular- ly to providing inftruclcrSo Care v/as taken that he fhould receive early notice of vacant profefforiliips in colleges, and of vacant ichools, that they might be filled agreeably to their v.'iilies. It v/iil be readily conceived that pu- pils of rank, wealth, and talents, would engage fpecb.1 attention^ D'Alembert was the open protector of all iuch, who villted Paris. The exteniive correfpcndencc of Voltaire, and the eclat of his genius, gave him a vail opportu- nity of infecling youth, even in foreign courtSc
* Earruel's Memoirs^ Vol. L Ch>ip. r, 17: --nd -Note,
^2 Proofs of itc Exijience
At that time the court of Parma was feek- ing men worthy to preiide over the education
(vf the vouniT: infant. The account which Vol-
■^re gave of tlie refult of that buiinef^j will
undantly explain the views of the confplra-
lors in this point. Writing to D'Alembert,
!ie fays, '^ It appears to me that the Parmicfaii
iild will be well furrounded. He will have
.1 Condilhac and a de Leire. If \vith all that h^
■' ii b'got^ grace mujl be poiverfid indcecL'^^
Among the innumerable attempts of thefc ever plotting philofophifts, the following curi- ous inilance of zeal is related of Diderot and D'Alembert. They frequently met in the coffee Iioufes at Paris, to difcufs religious quef- tions, before the idle Pariiians. In thefe dif. putes Diderot v/ould appear in his proper clnracler of an infidel, D'Alembert afluming that of an advocate for religion ; and appa- rently efpouung its caufe with great warmth, until driven by the victorious iniidel from ev- ery ground of defence, he would retreat, to appearance chagrined, and regretting that his religion ailbrdccl no better arguments for its defence. The impreinon vvhich fucli a fcene mufc leave upon the minds of thofe prcfcnt,
* Barrutri Memoirs Vo]. I. Chap, lu
arid Effe&s of lllumlmfm. ^'%
\vlio were ignonmt of the deception, need not be told.*
Their defire to ^^ crujlj the vjretch^' fuggeft- ed alfo to thefe confpirators the idea of- re- building the temple at Jerufalem, with a view of defeating the predictions of Chrift, 2nd the prophet Daniel, This had been long iince at- tempted by Julian the apoftate, with the fame defign, when flames and balls of fire burfting from the foundations, and repeatedly deftroy- ing the workmen, com.pelled him to defiil from his purpofe.f This rendered D'Alem* bert and Voltaire more defirous of depriving Scripture prophecy of fuch a glorious attefta- tion to its truth.- With this view, application was made both to Frederic and the Em:prefs of Ruilia, to engage them to ufe their influ-
E 2
*' Barruel's Memoirs, VoL I. Chap. ii.
t This miracle is recorded by many witneiTes, and more particularly by Ammianus Ivlarcellinus, a pagaa author, and friend ot Julian. The truth of this miracle is denied, indeed, by Bafnage ; but its authenticity appears '10 be fully eftablifhed in a learned diiTertation upon ti:2 fubjefl, by Dr. Warbarton, in which the objections of- 5:vifnag-e are^ particularly examined, and refuted.
54 F roofs of the Exiflence
€nce with tlie Turkiili powers, to wliofe jii- rifdiclion Jeruf.ilem pertained, to promote the defign ; but the fear of lofmg many wealthy Jews, whom they found profitable fubjecls, andwlio, in that cafe, w^oiild hava repaired to their new temple, prevented the attempt.*
To reconcile many things, of a very difFereni: nfpecl in the conduct and writings of thefe men, wiilx the purpofcs here attributed to- ihem, it is necelTary the reader fliould be in» formed, that all thefe deiigns were induftri- ouPiy concealed under a covert of hypocrify. Voltaire had completely convinced them of the utility of his favorite maxim, " ilrike, but hide year hand," Their real views were obvious, indeed, to the m.ore difcerning, but many were duped by what D'Alembert calls, " bis vo-Tvs to religion^-' and Voltaire boafts much of the {liccefs of his mafter ilroke of policy, "' in erecting a church, and conftantly receiv- ing commiUnion/'t
? Barmel's Memoirs, Vol, L Chap. ii. f Ibid
and Effe5is of lllumhilfi]u jr-
C H A P, III.
Progrefs of the Ccnf piracy ; the Triumph^ and Death of the Chiefs,
Powerful muft have been the operation of fuch abilities, fubtlety, and zeal. With Frederic of Pruffia, Voltaire clalTes, in the number of his adepts, Jofeph II, emperor of Germany, Catharine II, emprefs of Ruffia-, Chriftiern VII, king of Denm.ark, Guflavus III, king of Sweden, Ukica, queen of Sv/e» den, and Poniatowlki, king of Pohind.
Among the princes and princeffes, Frederic, landgrave of HeiTe CaiTel, the Duke of Brunf- wick, Lois Eugene, duke of Wirtemberg, and Lois, prince of Wirtemberg, Charles Theo- dora, elector palatine, the princefs Anhault Zerbfl, and Vv^ilhelmina, margr^vvine of Bari- eth, are alfo ranked with the initiated.*
* That thefe per/bnages were in the habits of a friendly correfpondetic©^ with Voltaire, w?rc captivated with his
'5 5 "Proofs of the Exi/tence
A great part of the miniilry, the no- blefs, and higher clafs of citizens in France, and, (excepting the clergy, who for the moft part remained firm in the caufe of religion) the literati, not of France only, but of Europe in general, appear to have been enfnared with this fafcinating pHilofophy. Nor was it con- fined to men of fcience. Voltaire boafts, " That there v/as not a Chriilian to be found from Geneva to Bern ; that Germany gave him great hopes ; R-uffia ftill greater, and that in Spain as well as Italy a great revolution was operating in ideas."
It was thefe profpedsof fuccefs, probably, - which led him to utter that moil: biafj^hem.ous
prediction, " That in twenty years more^ God will be in a pretty plight, '^^^^
The amazing influence of thefe writings is^ to be found, not in their fuperior excellence of
abliltles, and cliarnied with the pleafmg founds of reafon and phllofophy, is undoubted ; but that they wifhed the deftrudion of reKgion, feparate froin the abufes of pope- ry, does not appear, unlefs from the boaitings of the con- li:>irator5. Frederic, ChriRiern of Denmark, the hmd- gravc of HefTe, Wilhelmina of Barieth, if no more, are however to be excepted from this remark. Barruel's Memoirs, VoL I. Chap. 12 and 13.
f Barru^l's Mgnaoirs, Vol. I. Chap. 1 b\
and Ejftds of llluminifnu ^^
any kiiKl, but in the magic founds of reafon and philofopliy. The hiftorian jullly re- marks, that had Voltau'e and D'Alem.bert called themfelves enem.ies of Chriftiaiuty, they would have been the execration of P^urope. }3ut while only calling themfelves pliilofo- pheri, they are miftaken iox fuch. Voltaire, by his fuperior abilities, had gained fuch af- ecndency in the literary world, that whatever lie was pleafed to call philofophy, became cur- rent with all whofe abjecl: minds depended on the opinions of others ; and Voltaire w^as very liberal in applying the term to whatever was impious. lie boafts of many philofophers in Paris behind the counter J^ What ! iliali every
* If VoltaIre*s judgment was not entirely psrveited by his enmity to religion, whenever he reflcCled upon his curi- ous herd of philofophers, he muft have been di^'erted with the ridiculous idea. A man may, indeed, be igno- rant of philofophy, and the liberal art?, and yet be higlily refpe6tai;L^, while his profefTional employment does not render an acquaintance with thefe fubjects ne- ccffiry. But for fach a man to claim tlie title of phi- lofopher, and to claim it fmiply upon the foundation of his ridiculing that holy religion as abfurd, Vvhich a New- ton, a Locke, an Addifon, a Jones, and fome of the greateft men of every age have believed and defene'ed \ if any thing is a proper object of difguil-, it is fuch a wretched compound of pride and ignorance. Of fuch *j philofophers it is emphatically true, *' That prcfejp'ig thsm?- klvss tc he ivijl-^, they hecome fools P
5 8 Proofs of tks Exijlence
wanton coquette ; ihall every hufDaRd or wife who feoffs at conjugal fidelity j fhall every fon, wlio denies the authority of a. parent ; the courtier deilitute of ni orals, and the man who is a Have to his paffions 5 iliallthefe be faded pliilofophcrs ?*
As a ufeful comment on the foregoing ex- hibition of fuccefsful wickednefs, v/e are now called to witnefs the cloiins: fcene of the tragic aclors.
I beg leave here to remark- for my felf, that I feel a fenfible concern in republiiliing this Icene, not to offend againft that reverence whichbecomesan imperfecf creature, in tracing the awful footfteps of Jekovah ; nor would I willingly become accellary in promoting an imdue ufe of providential difpenfations. Ever odious to m.e is the practice of fupporting our particular opinions and party diftinclions, by a bold and unwarranted application of God's high and myfterious providence ; and far am I from v/ifliing to encourage • this fentiment, that men will receive, in this world, according to their v/orks ; but, that many events in providence may be, and ought to be confld> cred, as confirmations of revealed truth, and.
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. I. Chap. 190
and Effects of llhwilmfnu 5^
that God Is fonetimcs to he knozvn by the judg^ 7?icnts ivhicb he executes^ none, I prefurrie, who admit the truth of revelation, will deny.
The confpiracy exhibited an inftance iin- paralleled in the hiflory of man. In Voltaire we behold, not amply an unbeliever, a man hurried into finfui indulgences by the impulfe of violent appetites, but the bold, acftive, de- termined enemy of God and religion, deliber- ately devoting his uncommon abilities to the diihonor of the giver, and the feducfion of his fellow creatures from their allegiance to their Maker. Did not this mifchief, this com- municated pv)ifon feeni to require a povv'erful antidote ? And may we not im.agine compaf fion as imploring the Father of his creatures, to afford fome extraordinary means for de- livering the minds of men from the violence they had fuitered, by the perverfion of fuch uncommon talents ?
Such is the tendency of the following in- terefling fccne. Let the vv'orld draw near and receive inftruclion ! Let mankind duly eili- mate the boailed pov/ers of human reafon, and the fruits of that philofophy, which proudly rejeds the oliered comforts of the gofpel i
Co Proofs of the Exytoice
The French govcrniPient had tcuified then* dlfapprobatlon of Voltaire's writings, by pro- ]]lbidn2: his viritino; Paris. His numerous partifans, at length, fucceed in procuring a fufpenfion of this fentence ; and their chief, now in the eighty fourth year of his age, is once more permitted to make his appearance at the capital. The academies and theatres confer on him their richeft honors ; and the adepts, in his triumph, celebrate their own. So fennbly did he enjoy this adulation, that he exclaimed, " Ton then ivfo to make me expire -,vith glory'' But whatever was their defign, the will of Providence was very different from tliis ; for, in the midft of his trium.phs, he v/as feizcd with a violent hem.orrhage,* and his confcience was alarmed with the more infup- portable terrors of the Almighty. In the firft part of his ficknefs, he applied to a Romifli prieft, and gave in a declaration of his re- pentance ; but the fophifters interfered, and prevented its being completed according to the ritual of that church. Remorfe and rage filled the remainder of his wretched days ; now fupplicating, and now blafpheming that Saviour whom he had fworn to crujh ; and in plaintive accents he would cry out^ '^ Oh
* A violent flax of blood.
and Effc6ls of lllumimfm, 61
Chrlft ! Oh Jcfus Clirift !*' And then com- plain that he was abandoned by God and man. The hand which had traced the fen- tence of an impious, revelHng king, feemed to trace before his eyes, '' Crujl:> then^ do crtfjh the wretch,'^
" Begonc^^' he would exclaim to the con- fpirators who approached him, " // is you who have brought me to my prefenf Jiate^ and what a wretched glory have you procured me I " His phy- ficians and attendants were compelled, by the horrors of the fcene, to retire. Mr. Tron- chin, his principal phyfician, declared, that " the furies of Arefies could give but a faint idea of thofe of Voltaire.*^
Tlius died, on the 30th of May, 1778, three months after his firft feizure, worn out by his own fury, rather than by difeafe and the decay of years, the moft malignant confpir- ator againft Chriftianity that had lived fmce the time of the apoftles.*
* The above fa<51s are grounded on juridical minutes, de- pofited at Paris, in the hands of Monf. Momet, Notary- Public, and on the teftimony of the celebrated Mr. Tron- chin. This teftimony is coniirmed by a letter frc^m M. De Luc, fent to Abbe Barruel, after the appearance of the firft volume of thefe Memoirs, and which may be f€cn in the appendix to the third volume.
62 Proofs of the Exiftence
After the death of Voltaire, D'Alembcrt conducled the affairs of the confpiracy, of which he was proclaimed chief. He died November 1783, five years after his patron ; and from what can be colleded, it appears, that he derived no better comforts from his boafled philofophy. Condorcet undertook to render him inacceffible to all who would wil- lingly declare the truth, and in particular, violently excluded the Reclor of St. Ger- main's, who prefented himfelf in the quality of a pailor ; yet when firil relating the circum- ilances of his death, he hefitated not to add, ^^ Had I iiGt been there he would have jlinched alfo''* The adept, Grim, writing an account of his death to Frederic, fays, " That ficknefs had greatly weakened D'Alembert's mind in his lafl moments."
Diderot in his laft ficknefs, upon being faithfully admoniflied of his danger by 3 young man w^ho attended him, melted into tears ; applied to a clergyman, Mr. De Ter- fac, and was preparing a recantation of his errors, when his fituation Vv^as difcovered by the fophiilers. "With much difficulty they perfuaded him that a country air would
■^ pjftorical Dictionary, article D'Alembert.
a7id Effcds of llluminiftn. C^
relieve him. The wretches concealed his de- parture, and fupported him with thefe delu- ^WQ. hopes, when they knew his laft hour was faft approaching. They watched him till they had feen him expire, and then reprefented that he died in all his atheifm, without any figns of remorfe.
Frederic alone, fucceeded in perfuading hirafelf, that death was an everlailing fxeep.=^
* BarruePs Memoirs^ Vol. L Chap, iS.
... \
§4 Froofs of the Exijlence
CHAP. IV.
OCCULT MASONRT*
By Occult Mafonry Is here to be un- derllood thofe Lodges of Free Mafons, which, leavmo" their original fimple inllitutions, in- troduced fubjecls and practices which had no ^onnedion with Mafonry, and of which the lod^-eswhichremainedpure, had noknowledge.
* Tlie aiuhorlties on whicli Dr. Robifon chiefly relies, to fupport his narrative {befides the original writings) are,
1 GrolTe Abficht des Illuminaten Ordens.
2 Nachtrages (3) denfelben.
3 Weilhaupt's improved fyftem.
4 Sytem des Ilium. Ordens aus dem Original Schriften gezogen. Rob. p. 162.
Rev. Dr. J. Erfkine, in a letter to a correfpondent In New England, dated June 13, J 801, adds his teftlmony to the authenticity of the books, and mod alarming fads to which Dr. Robifon refers ; and adds, " I am willmg you fhould make what ufe of my letter you may think proper." [Manufcript Letter.]
and Effeft's of iHimlnipiu %
To exhibit a brief view of what may be collected of importance ' refpeding thefe adul- terated Lodges, from Robifon's Proofs and BarruePs Memoirs, is the defign of this chap- ter. Such a view is a neceffary introduction to the hiflory of Illuminifm, and its connedion- with the Mafonic orders.
Dr. Robifon obferves, that in the early part^ of his life he commenced an acquaintance Vvdth Mafonry, which he coniidered as affording a pretext for fpending an hour or two in decent conviviality. That, though he had been fuc>' cefsiul in his mafonic career, and attained lome diilinguiilied degrees, yet he was in- duced to fufpend his intercourfe with the lodges, viewing Mafonry as an unprofitable amufement, and in a degree inconiiftent with the more ferious duties of life. That while in this flate of indifference refpeding Free Mafonry, his attention v/as awakened, and his curiofity excited by fome new circum.ftan" ces, particularly by what he met with in a German work, called Religions Begehenheiten^ i. e. Religious Occurrences^ a periodical work, publiihed by Profeffor Koeefler of Gieffen, v/hich convinced him that Mafonry v/as ap- plied to purpofes of which he had been wholly ignorant. That he found the lodges th^
66 Proofs of the Exi/lcncs-
liaunts of many projeclors in religion and politics, in direct oppolition to that eftablifhed rule in Mafonry, " That nothing of religion or politics fhall ever he introduced into the lodges ^^ and that purfuing the fubjecl, he found alTo- ciations riling out of thefe abufes, deftruclive of religion and fociety. In this work he pra- feiTes the benevolent defign of teaching man- kind the danorer refultinor from thefe combi-
o o
nations ; and left the freedom with which he cxpofes thefe perverted lodges, ihould be con- sidered as inconfiftent v/ith his mafonic en- gagements, he vindicates himfelf by obferv- ingr that he lias not divuh:j;ed the fecrets of original Mafonry, and that he is under no ob- ligations to conceal its abufes, and new in^ vented deg-rees.*
o
Abbe Barruel introduces the fabje(5i: cf Mafonry by bearing a moft honorable tefti*- mony of many lodges, in England in particu- lar, whofe members he confiders as ignorant
* Introduiflion to Robifon's Proofs. Dr. Robllbn, in a letter to a correfpondent In America, dated Sept. 23, 1 800, vvrites, that fmce the publication of his book, he )ias " greatly increafed the body of his evidence, by means of many German publications ;" but that his ill health and official duties, prevent his arranging and pub- iiihin2; this evidence.
and Efftcls of llhmintfnu 67
of the real obje6l of the inftitution, which he pronounces to be radically evil. In fupport of this idea he attempts to prove, that the words liberty and equality^ which are common to all lodges, imply, not fimply that Mafonic fraternity of which they are ufually confidered as expreHive, but what they have been ex- plained to intend in France, during the late revolution. A liberty or fredom from all re- ligious and moral obligation \ an equality fuh- verlive of all focial order and fubordination.
It cannot be expeded that his obfervations on this fubjed fhould be introduced here, as they have no very intimate connection with the objed of our prefent inquiry ; but they who wiili to become more fully acquainted with his laborious review and explanation of mafonic myfteries, may recur to the ninth and fucceeding chapters in the fecond volume af his Memoirs. He was himfelf a Mafon ; and at the fame time not fubjecl to the cuilomary bonds of fecrecy. To explain what is fo un- ufual, he relates, That at the time of his ad- miiiion, Mafonry had become fo frequent in France, that the fecret was lefs guarded ; that upon a mafonic occaiion, where all the com- pany, except him.felf, were Mafons, and gen- erally his acquaintance and intimate friends^
GB Proofs of the Extjlencs
he was urged to join them, and, in a manner, forced with them into the lodge ; but, ftill re- fufing the propofed oath with great refolution, his firmnefs, it was faid, proved him a Mafon, and he was accordingly received with great applaufes, and at that time advanced to the degree of Mafter. This gave him peculiar advantages for treating this fubjecl, and he appears not to have made a difiionorable ufe of the privilege.*
Whatever doubts may be entertained of his general theory, his inveftigation affords in- dubitable proofs of the accommodating nature of mafonic myfteries, and their pliancy to all the purpofes of cabal and intrigue. Robifon's Proofs forcibly imprefs the ikme idea. In England the lodge afforded a retreat to the ad° herents of the Stuarts, and v;as a covert for their meetings. In France it was made fub- fervient to the views of the Britifh Pretender. In the lodge of the Magon Parfait is the follow- ins: device : " A lion wounded bv an arrow, and efacped from the ftake to which he had been bound, with the broken rope fcill about his neck, is reprefented lying at the mouth of a cave, and occupied with mathematical
* BarrueFs Memoirs, Vol. TI. p. 152, 155.
and EffeSls of Tilumlnlfiiu ^^
inflruments, which are lying near -him, A broken crown lies at the foot of the ftake." There can be little doubt but that this em- blem alludes to the dethronement, the captivi- ty, the efcape, and afylum of James II,. and his hopes of refloration by the help of the loyal brethren. Great ufe w^as alfo made of Mafonry by the Church of Rome, for fecuring and extending her influence on the laymen of rank and fortune.*
But this prominent feature of Mafonry, its accommodating- nature, will more readily be perceived when we come to notice its eafy coalefcence with the defiQ:ns of the Illuminees,
The abufes of Mafonry, which we are now tracing, and which came to their full growth in the Illuminated lodges, appear to have orig- inated in a natural fpirit of inquiry, ftruggling v/ith the reftraints which the French govern- ment formerly impofed on a free difcuffion of religion and politics. Under the covert of a lodge, they found themfelves liberated from a painful reftraint, and experienced the pleaf- ure of communicating fentiments in fafety, which, in another place, would have expofe^^ them to dan2:er.
o
* Robifon's Proofs, p. i%^ 31-,
70 F roofs of the Exifencs
We need not be told that even innocent in- dulgencies are liable to degenerate into the moft pernicious habits. This truth was forci- bly exemplified in the French lodges. A channel being once opened by which the heart could give vent to its feelings, the fmall ftream foon became a torrent, affording a paiTage to every abfurd, fceptical, and diforganizing idea, and which, in its final progrefs, not only de- molilhed the fuperftruclures which fuperfti- lion and defpotifm had raifed, but threatened to undermine the foundations of religion and fociety.
The pliant forms of Mafonry were eafily wrought into a compliance with the new views of the Mafons. New explanations were given, and new degrees invented, which, while they gave pleafure by the air of myftery attending them, ferved as a veil to conceal from the young adept, a full view of the ob- ject: towards v/hich he was led. The veil was gradually removed, as his exercifed organs were flrengthened to endure the difcovery.
We find a fi:riking inflance of the new ex- planations given to ancient fymbols, in the
degrees of Chevaliers de rOrient^ and Chevaliers de I'Aigkj which were once' explained as typ-
and EffeSis of llluriiinifm. y %
ical of the life and immortality brought to light by the gofpel ; but a more modern ex« pianation reprefents the whole hiftory and peculiar doctrines of the gofpel, as being typical of the fmal triumph of reafon and philofophy over error.
To meet the new views of the Mafons,anew feries of degrees was added to the lift, viz. the Novice, the Elil de la Verife, and the Sublime Philofopbe. A lively imagination would be gratified by tracing thefe curious allegories ; but the reader mull be fatisfied with one as a fample ; that of the Chevalier de Soldi, which was an early addition to the mafonic degrees. I have the rather chofen this inftance, as here Robifon and Barruel appear not to harmonize in their relation. This apparent difagreement, however, %^aniihes upon a.clofer infpedion, which will fhew us that they defcribe differ- ent parts of the fame degree.
Robifon confines himfelf to the introducto- ry formula, in which we are to obferve, that the Tres Venerable is Adam ; the Senior War- den is Truth ; and all the Brethren are Chil- dren of Truth. In the procefs of reception, brother Truth is afked. What is the hour ? He informs father Adam, that amonar men it
»-2 Proofs of the Exifience
is the hour of darknefs, but that it is mid-day in the lodge. The candidate is afked, Why he has knocked at the door, and what is be- come of the eight companions ? He fays, that the world is in darknefs, and his companions and he have loft each other \ that Hefperus, the ftar of Europe, is obfcured by clouds of incenfe, offered up by fuperftition to defpots, who have made themfeives gods, and have retired into the inmoft recelTes of their palaces, that they may not be recognized to be men, while their priefts are deceiving the people, and caufmg them to worfhip thefe divinities/^
Barruel's account of this degree, contains an explanation of the implements which the new- ly received brother finds in the lodge, and the inftruclions there given him.. A part of thefe inftruaions, which fucceed the foregoing in- troductory explanations, follow.
" By the Bible you are to underftand, that you are to acknowledge no other law than that of Adam, the law that the Almighty en- graved on his heart, and that is what is called die law of nature. The campajs recals to your mind, that God is the central point of every
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 33> 35'
and EffcHs of tlnminifm. 73
tiling, from which every thing h equally dif- tant, and to which every thing is equally near. By t\\tfqua?'e we learn, that God has made every thing equal ; and by the Cubic Jioyie^ that all your adions are equal %vhh refpecl to the Jove* reign good J*
The mofl effential part of this difcourfe m that which brother Veritas (or Truth) gives of the degree of the Eled. Among others is the following pafTage : " If you afk me what are the necelTary qualities to enable a Mafon to arrive at the center of real. perfection, I anfwer,
that to attain it, he mafl have cruflied the head of the ferpent of worldly ignorance, and have call ofFthofe prejudices of youth concern- ing the myfteries of the predominant religion 'Cf his native country. All religious worjhip be^ ing only invented in hopes of acquiring pozver^ a?id t5 gain precedency ainong men ; and by a floth which covets^ under the falfe pretence of piety ^ its neighbor^! riches* This, my dear brother, is what you have to combat ; fach is the monfter you have to crufli under the emblem of the ferpent. It is a faithful reprefentation of that which the igno- rant vulgar adore^ under the name of religion*'^* Such dodrines need no comment.
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. XL p. 163.
j^4 Troojs of the Exijience
With thefe new degrees and explanations, the French lodges appear to have undergone feme new modifications with refpecl to their connecliqn andcorrefpondence with each oth- er. The Bienfaifants^ at Lyons, rofe into high reputation. This lodge leems to have taken the lead in the diforganizing fentiments of the day, and was acknowledged as a parent lodge by feveral foreign focieties. But the moft dif- tinguiihed, was the Grand Orient^ at Paris. This may be confidered, rather as a Mafonic Parlia- ment^ compofed qi delegates from all the prin- cipal lodges, and in which m?.fonic concern? were ultimately determined. In 1782 this fo- ciety had under its dirediion 266 improved lodges ; the whole united under the Duke of Orleans as Grand Mafler, at leaft apparently, but really guided by the moft profound adepts^ who made ufe of his interefl and influence tp promote their views, and then refigned him to that deftruclion, which was pronounced juft^ by the unanimous vote of mankind.*
While the lodges in France were paflmg this metamorphofis, thofe in Germany retain- ed their original, fimple conftitutions, which
* BarruePs Memoirs, Vol. II. p. 239 ; and Robifon's
Proofs, p, 37, 48.
and Effects of Illuminijhu fs
tfiey firfl received from England, in 171 6. It is remarkable that the Germans had been lonir accuftomed to the wGrd, the Jign, and the gripe of the Mafons ; and there are exiant, and in force, borough laws, enjoining the mailers of Mafons to give employment to journeymen v/ho had the proper xVord and iign. But the hrtl German lodge, was eftabliflied at Co- logne, in- the year abovcmentioned.
The Genxians, always fond of the marvel- lous, had attributed ilrange powers to Mafon^ ry, and been feeking, with their characleriilio patience, the povv-er of tranfmuting metals, of raifrng ghoils, and other wonderful fecrets which they imagined were concealed in ma- ibnic myfterics. This difpofition had render- ed them the dupes of Hunde, Johnfon, Stark^ and other adventurers who found their ad- vantages in German credulity.
But about the year 1757, an entire revolu- tion took place. Some French OiHccrs, then refiding at Berlin, undertook to communicate to the Germans their refinements in Mafonry. They could not reiill the enchantment of the ribbands and liars with which the French had decorated the order. A Mr. Rofa, a French eommilTary, brought from Paris a complete
*^6 Proofs of the Exiftence
■waggon load of mafonic ornaments, wliicli were all diihibuted before it had reached Ber-- lin, and he was obliged to order another to furnifii the lodges of that city. The mafonic fpirit was revived throughout Germany ; All were eager to hear and learn. New degrees ivere invented, and Mafanry underwent a gen? cral revolution, i^ll proclaiming the excel- lencies of Mafonry ; while not one could tell in wliat its excellency conhfted ; their zeal. but f^^rved to increafe their confufion and dii- order.
Thofe who believed that mafonic myileries- concealed the v/onderful powers of magic and alchymy, engaged, with freih zeal, in chafe of the airy phantom ; and freili adventurers ap- peared, who, in their turn, railed and difap- pointed the hopes of their admirers. Happy would it have been, had no worfe confequen:- ces enfued than the wafte of their time and money, in the purfuit of thefe fooleries ; but thcfe French inilruclors, together with their new formes and degrees, had communicated new notions refpecling government and rellg* ion, and introduced the Guilom of harangu- ing on thefe fubjecl:s in the lodges. A clofe connexion was formed between the Frenclv and fomc of the German lodges, and the for*
and EffeBs of lllumimfnu jy
mer were not unwilling to communicate their new difcoveries. Philofophically illuminated, the German adepts began to difcern, that re- ligion was the flavery of the free born mind ; that reafon was the only fafe guide, and the Only deity whom mankind ought to worihip j that the eftablifliment of government was the original fin ; and emancipation from all legal reftraint, the true regeneration taught by je- fus Chriil ; and which can be effected only by the wonderful power of thofe two words, liberty and equality,^
The reader, who has not been acquainted %vith the hiftory of modern philofophy, will hardly believe, perhaps, that this is a ferious ftatement of fa<^s, or find it cafy to conceive that luch abfurdities were ever dignified with the title of philofophy. But thefe fentiments are all to be found in the code of the Illumi- nees 5 anxd to poflefs the m.ind with thefe fen- timents, is the grand defign of that fyftem of policy expreffed by Illuminifm j the hiftory of which will be given in the fucceeding chapters.
02
♦ Robifon's Proofs, p. 6^, 75.
7 8 Proofs of the Exijience
It is proper to obferve here, that at this time. Baron PInigge, reiided in the neighbor- hood of Francktbrt, who from his youth had been an enthufiafl: in Mafonry, and a believer in its cabaliilic powers. Defpairing, at length, of ever finding the Philofopher's Stone, in purililt of which his father had fpent his for- tune, and he his time, his enthufiafm was now diverted into another channel. The fceptical difcourfes delivered in the lodcres, aflifted him to clifcover that Mafonry was pure natural re- ligion, and that the whole duty of man was comprifed in Cofmopolitifm, or facrificing all private interefts for the promotion of univerfal happinefs. Inflamed with thefe romantic ideas, he labored to propagate them through the lodges.
The authority allumed by the lodges of Berlin, had difguflcd m^any of their brethren, and produced divifions, which were further incrcafed by a variety of adventurers, each of which had his adherents. The Baron, found thefe circumflances a bar to his fuccefs, for the removal of which he projected a general congrefs from all the mafonic focieties in Eu- rope and America. The deranged fituatioa of mafonic concerns feemed to render fuch a meeting expedient j and by the afliftange gf
and EjfcSls of lllumlnlfm. 75-
the lodges of Fraackfort and Wetzlar it was obtained, and held at Willemfbad, in 1780^ Here deputies, affembled from the four quar=» tersof the globe, were bufied for fix months, debating about the myfleries of Mafonry with all the ferioufnefs of ilate ambailadors.
While Knigge was laboring to poiTefs the deputies with his fentiments, he was met' by another Mafon, the Marquis of Conftanza, who convinced him that his new ideas refpecl- ing Mafonry had been reduced to a regular fyftem, and were now rapidly fpreading in feveral mafonic focieties. Tranfported with this difcovery, he eagerly united himfclf to the Illuminces, which was the feci to which the Marquis introduced him, and joined his eitorts with thofe of his new inftructor to gain over deputies, and to give a direclion to the proceedings of the convention favorable to- the defigns of the llluminees^
In thefe attempts they were not witliout fuccefs. Numbers entered fully into their views, and the general refult of the congrefs was agreeable to their wiflies. It was decreed, that any Mafon of the three firfl degrees fhould be admitted to every lodge of whatever dcfcription j which opened all the lodges to
Bo Proofs of the Exi/ience
the agents of Illuminifm. It was alfo decreed, that every lodge fiiould have the liberty of de^ daring to which grand lodge it would be fub- jecl. The plan of union was termed Eclectic,, which was alfo favorable to the new order, as it was in lodges of that denomination that it began its exiflence,*
We fhall now proceed to take a view of that memorable fociety, in which all the Anti- Chrillian, and Anti-Social opinions of the day- were reduced to a regular fyflem, and propa- gated with a zeal wprthy of a better caufe.
'* T lately met with the following remark, in a letter from ProfeiTor Ebeling, which I beg leave to introduce for the fatisfa*5tion of thofe who may be difpofed to doubt the above reprefentation of Germanic Mafonry. " Ma- fonry (he writes) was much in vogue in Germany from the year 1740 to 1760, but made no noife ; but in later years the Mafonry of Germany was ftrangely corrupted ; divifions arofe, of which Robifon fpeaks pretty exa<5l as far as I know."
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 76, 83. Bairuel's MemoirS;. Vol. IV. p. 101; 104.
and EffcSij of llluminifm, %%
G HA P. V.
Illuminism. Its Origin^ Adors^ and d'lffercm Grades,
1 HE lodge Theodore, of Municii in Bavariaj was the moil remarkable of the Ec- le^lic lodges ; and had formed a conflitution of its own,, in confequence of inftrudions re* eeived from the lodge Bienfaifants at Lyons* Diftinguiihed among the members of this lodge, was Dr. Adam Weiihaupt, ProfeObr of Canon Law in the Univerilty at Ingolftadt. He had acquired a high reputation in his pro- fcffion, which drew around him numbers from the neighboring Univeriities, The advantages which thefe circumftances gave him for im- prelluig his own views upon the minds of youth, perhaps hrft fuggefted to him the. idea of becomino; the leader of a more numerous fociety, and it certainly was the means of h^'s fuccefs in fpreading his pernicious fentimentSa
Bz Proofs of the Exifience
The bold opinions in religion and politics, %v'liicli v/ere more openly taught in the lodge Theodore than in any other, and which Knigge labored to propagate, Weifhaupt was the firft to reduce to a regular code. His fcheme ap- pears to be calculated, not fo much for uniting perfons of iimilar fentiments in one fociety, as for feducing thofe of oppofite inclinations, and by a moft artful and deteftable procefs, gradually obliterating from their minds every moral and religious fentiment. It is in this view principally that this plan of feduclion calls for the attention of mankind, as it developes the fecret, iniidious policy by which the agents of faction and infidelity lead on their difciples, flill concealing their real defigns, until the iiiind is involved in a maze of error, or entangled in fnares from which there is no retreat.
Another trait which deferves particular no- tice in this prime theory of deception, is th^t artful ftruclure by which the deluded vidim is led to give his fupport to a fyftem, which, in its invifible operation, is undermining the ob- ject of his fondeft attachment. Perfons have fubfcribed to this conftitution who, had they been aware of its tendency and iffuc, would
and Efeds of lllumimfnu 83
fooner have committed their hand to the flame.*
What thofe particulars were in Weifliaupt's early life, which were confeffedly " great de- viations from pure morality/' we are not told ; but the hiftory of his illuminated career, and his condud while he fuftained the dignified of- fice of a profeflbr in a Univerfity, certainly give us no favorable idea of that part of his life, which is acknowledged to be immoral.
We here lay before the reader a letter, found among the original writings of the Illu- minees in Bavaria, from Weifliaupt to Hertel Canon of Munich, but under the feigned names of Spartacus to Marias,
^^' September, 1783,
** Now let me, under the moil profound fe«. crecy, lay open the fituation of my heart ; I am almoft defparate. My honor is in danger, and I am on the eve of lofing that reputation which gave me fo great an authority over our people. Myfifier in lazv is with child. How fliall I reflore the honor of a perfon who is the victim of a
* Robifon's Proofs, p. ^2, 85. EarruePs Memoirs, Vol. III. Chap. I,
,^4 F roofs of the Er.iftence
crime that is wholly mine ? ¥7e have already 7nade feveral attempts to deflroy the child ; fhe was determined to undergo all ; but Euriphon is too timid. Could I depend on Celie's fecrecy, (Profeiibr Buder at Munich) he could be of great fervice to me ^ he had promfed me his aid three years ago. Mention it to him if you think proper. If you could extricate me from this unfortunate ilep, you would reftore me to life, to reft, to honor, and to authority. If you cannot, I forewarn you of it, / will hazard a defper ate blow ^ fori neither can nor will lofe my honor. I know not what devil * * * [Here decency obliges us to be filent.] It is not too late to make an attempt, for ilie is only in her fourth month. Do think of fome means which can extricate me from this afiair.
I am yours,
Spartacus.'*
Other letters to different perfons upon the fame fubjed, and of a fmiilar im^port, were found with this. Though he had folemnly denied his having ufed, or even being acquaint- ed with m.eans of abortion ♦, yet, when the matter became public, he admits the facls re- fpefting his fitter in law, and the attempt to deftroy the child, but juftifies himfelf with an effrontery which difcovers ftili more than the
and Effeeis of Illuminffru 8^
crime itfelf, a mind left to every; fentiinent of goodnefs. " Tills," lie fays, " is far from prov- ing any depravity of heart. In bis condition, his honor at fiake^ what-elfe was left him tq do ? His greateO: enemies, the Jefuits, have taught, that in fuch a cafe it is lawful to make way with the child. In the introductory fault, he has the example of the befl of men. The fecond w^as its natural confequence ; it was aU together involuntary ; and, in tke -eye of a {ihilofophical judge, who does not fquare him- felf by the harfli letters of a blood thirily law- giver, -he has but a very trifling account -to ^fbttle,''*
In connexion v»:ith the characler of the founder of the fed, it may be proper to bring ilitQ view, thofe of his Areopagites, in whom' he principally confided, and who were feated next himfelf in the government of the fociety. He himfelf furniihes the portrait m a letter to Gato, (Zwack.)
" I have received," he wTites, ^^ the moft fatal intelligence from Thebes. They have given
H
^ Ilobiron*s Proo-fs, p. 130 to 134.. Barniel^s Men: VoL III, Chap, u
86 T roofs of the Exiftence
a public fcandal, by admitting into the lodges that vile Fropertius^ a libertine, loaded with debts, and a moft deteftable being. Our 5^- crates^ Vv^ho could be of the greateft ufe to us, is always dinink ; our Augtijlus has acquired the woril of reputations ; the brother Alcibi" ades is perpetually fighing and pining away at the feet of his landlady ; Tiberius attempted to lay violent hands on Diomede's fifter, alid fafFered himfelf to be caught by the hufband j Heavens I what men have I got for Arecpagites /'*
It appears that it was not the deteftable na- ture of thefe actions which excited his difguft, but their influence on th^ reputation of hts order, for he further v/rites, '' Judge your- felves v/hat would be the confequence, if fuch a man as our Marcus Aurelius (Feder) were once to know what Tifet of men^ defiiiute of mor- ah ; zvbat a fet of debauchees^ liars ^ fpendthrifts^ hragadodos^ and fools ^ replete with vanity and pride ^ you have among you^ &*^/'*
From feveral expreffions in his letters, it appears that V/eifhaupt had, for a-confiderable time, been meditating the plan of an order which ihould in time govern the world 5 but
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 114.
and Effects of lllumlnlfnu 87
it was not fully completed when he firfl put his fyftem in operation, and inftituted the order of the llluminees. This was done in May, 1776, by the initiation of tv/o of his Univcr- fity pupils j but the order was not fully eftab- liihed till 1778,*
Weiiliaupt's aim in the frequent reviews, and nice touches which he gave his plan, was firft, to explore every avenue to the heart, every procefs by which he might- moftefiectu- ally feduce, and lead men blindfold ; and in the next place, to provide fufliciently for his own fecurity 5 for, notwithftandlng the fen- tence of bariilhment which .he was under drew from him the moft grievous complaints^^* of defpotic cruelty, he confidered it a much lighter puniihment than that which awaited him in cafe of detection.
In a letter to Cato, he vmtes, " I daily put to the teft what I made lad year, and I find that my performances of this year are far fupe- rior, You know the fituation in which I ftand. It is abfolutely necelTary that Ifnould, during my life, remain unknown to the
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 107. Barrue?s Memoir?, Vol. m. Chap. I, Xbid. Vol. IV. p. %^, ^^,
S3
Proofs if the Exijtence
greater part of the adepts tliemfelves.. lam
often overwhelme'd with the idea that all my medita- tions^ all my fernjices and toils are fferhaps^ only tzvift-^- inz a rope^ or planting a gall oivs for myfelf^'*
The followin^^' fcheme exhibits the diiTerent
grades through which the candidate progreffcs
t-o the perfeccion of iilumination.
Preparation,
Novice,
Miner val,
Iliumin. Pviinora
f Apprentice^.
Symbolic, <| Fellov.xraft,
[Mafler.
C Ilium, Major, Novice^
C Ilium. Dirigeiis, Knight.
f - ^ CPrefbyter, Prieil,, Lrffsr, ] . ^
c. Prince, Regent,
NURSLRY. <
^{Casonry.
Mysteries.^
^ ^ C Magus,
There \i a part conmion to all thefe dc:- grees,,vjz: that GF.theInrinuator.,or.Recruitorj the duty of whofe oiFice is to find and bring forward' members for the firft and fucceed'ing
dcgreer,];
* Barrucl's Memoirs, Vol. IIT. p. I2. f ^•^' V' ^9' 1 RoMfcu's rioufs, p. 1 39.
and Effeds of IHuminiftn. 89
CHAP. VI.
The Code of the Illuminees.
It was neceffary that fome members of the order fhould be known as fuch, that they might ferve as guides to thofe who fhould have a defire to be initiated. Thefe are the Minervals^ \v\\o are the only vifible members of the fociety. A candidate for admilTion mufl make his wifli known to fome Minerval ; he reports it to a fiiperior. by whom, in an ap- pointed channel, it is communi-cated to the council. No farther notice is taken of it for fome tim.e. The candidate is obferved in filence, if judged unlit for the order no notice IS taken of his requeft \ but if otherwife, he receives privately an invitation to a confer- ence, and upon iigning the declaration requir-- ed of the preparation clafs, is admitted to the Noviciate.*
H2
t * Roblfon's Proofs, p^ 9^*
S'O • Pfoofi of ike Exyieme^
But the hifinuators are the principal agents for propagating the order. Thefe are inviiible iV^Q3jfeekmg whom ihey may. devour y who enter on their tablets, with which they are always to be furniiiied, the names of fuch as they judge would be ufeful to the order, with the r^afons for or ao^ainif their admiillob.
o
The directions of the iniinuator teach him to feek after young men from eighteen to thirty, thofe in particuhr who have not com^. pleted their education, and thofc whole exte- rior prepofieffes one in their fivor. His at- tention is likewife direcl:ed to men of rank, weakh, and influence. Mtn of an infmuat- ing, intriguing dirpcfition, mechanics of all profeiiions, bookfellers, fchool mafters, poll maflers, thofe who keep poil horfes, and the difcon tented of every clafs of people.
Of thefe minutes the Infmuator is required to make a return- twice every month to hii fuperiors, who form a lift of fuch as thej judge fuitable prey, and put it into the hands of an Infmuator, not the one perhaps who fent in the name, but one whom the fuperiors cf the order ffiall fee fit to appoint. And he now begins the labor of gaining over his pu- pil to the fovlety. The perfgii tlius- marked
and Efftds of lllumlnifm. gf'
as the object of feduclion, thougii he has ex- preiled no dedre of uniting with the order^ i^ ^ phiced in th^ grade of
Preparation, It would be a talk indeed t<5 trace minutely the arts of infinuation, and the cautious ftcps by which the Recruiter is to proceed. In general, the curiolity of the fub- jed is to be excited by fuggefllons, made as by accident, of the exifience and power of fuch a fociety ; his mind is to be ifripreiTed^ with the mofl honorable views of the defign of this inftitutio.n^ his affe(5lions and confidence ' are to be gained by every art of insinuation ; • the power of fecret focieties, andthe pleafure of fecretly reigning, aTe to be prefented to his imagination, and books provided by the focie- ty, and correfponding with its view^s, are to be put into his hands. Should he break from all thefe fnares, he is marked for an enemy whofe character and influence the fociety is hence- - fordi. concerned to deilroy. They, nwji be gained-^ or ruined, in the public apinion^ is the law of the order. But fliould the candidate, by thefe arts, be led to exprefs a deiire to join this in=- vifible combination, he is required to fubfcribe an exprefs and folemn declaration, '' never to reveal, by fign, woixl,, or any other way, even to the moft intimate friend, whatever ^aU b^
cjZ Proofs of the Exi/lence '
entrufted to him relative to his entrance intc ' a fecret foclety, and this whether his reception take place or not ; and that he fubje6ts himfelf to this fecrecy the more willingly, as his intro- ducer ajfures bim^ thai nothing is ever tranfailed in this focieiy hurtful to religion^ morals orthefiateJ^*' The candidate having fubfc rib ed this declara-*' tion commences
Novice*- He is nov^r introduced to an in- flruclor, the only one perhaps of the order whom he is permitted to know. By this in- ftrucbor he is taught, that fiknce and fecrecy are the very foul of the order ^ and enjoined never to fpeak of any thing belonging to it, even be- fore thofe Vvdiom he may fuppofe to be initi- ated, without the flrongeit necelTity. He is alfo furniilied with a nev/ fupply of books and writings, calculated for his advancement. '
Here a cautionary direcliori is introduced^ which extends to all the different degrees, that if any of the brotherhood fall fick, the other brethren are to vilit him, to prevent his mak- ing any unfavorable declarations, and to fe- cure any papers with which he may have been entrufted.
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 94.. Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. Ill* Chap. 3,
J! id Effects of Ulunuiupn. 93 .
T'o qualify the Novice for the practice of 'that lecrecy which has been reprefented as of fuch importance, he is furniflicd with what may be called the Dlclionary of Illuminifm, He here learns that no brother bears the £ime -name iu, the order which he does in the workL He receives a name for himfelf, and is made acquainted w^ith that of his inftruclor, and with thofc of the other brethren, as he is- ad- mitted to know them.
The following is a brief fample of this vo^ cabulary. The fictitious name of Weifliaupt, was Spartacus ; of Knigge, Pbilo ; of the Mar*. quis Conftanza, Diomedts ; of Zwack,^Ci7?'a;- of Baron BalTus, Hannibal ; of Count Savioli, Brutus ; of Nicola i, L^/r/^^ ; of Count MalV fenhaufen, Ajax ; of Councellor Hoheneicherj Alcihlades ; of Merz, Tiberius ; &c.*
The Novice is alfo put upon the fiudy of i new Geography^ from which he learns, that places, as well as perfons, bear a new iiamfe, Bavaria, is denominated Achaia^ and Auftrla. Egypt ; Munich is called Athens^ and Ylcnna^ '.Rome^ &c.
* BarniePs- Memoirs, Vol. III. Chap- ^ -.vANc^l-Pn ^p. 173,. Robiibn's Proofs,, p. I 6q>.
94 1^ roofs of the Ex'i/lence
Time too, he finds, has undergone a new ar- rangement, and he muft again ftudy his calen- dar. The Perlian era, beginning A. D. 630, i^ adopted by the-Illuminees. The months are known by new nam.es, and are of very dif- ferent lengths ; Pharavardin has no lefs than- forty one days, while Afphandar has only twenty.
Nor is the candidate yet qualified to corref-- pond with his new brethren, untilKe has ac- quired the cypher of the order. A fimple one is prepared for the lower grades, but the fu-- periors make ufe of hieroglyphics.
He ndw begins the fludy of the ftatutes of the fociety, and a morality extraded from heathen writers ; but is told that the knowl- edge of mankind is above all other things im- portant, and to acquire this, tracing charac- ters, and noticing occurrences, are llrenuoufly recommended ; his obfervations are to be fubmitted to the review of his fuperiors.
In this ilage of his noviciate, he is required to prefent the order with a written account of his name, place of birth and reiidence, age, rank, profeffion, favorite ftudies, books, fe- cret writings, revenues, friends, enemies^.
and Effcds of Uluminifnu 9 j
parents, &c. A fimilar table is prepared by his inftru(5i:or, of whatever he has been able to difcover ; and from a comparifon of thefe, and his anfwers to a number of interefling queftions, the fuperiors judge of the expedi- ency of admitting him to the lafi; proofs.
His admiflion being agreed upon, in the ^ead of the night he is led to a gloomy apart* ment, and being repeatedly queftioned re=> Tpeding his readinefs to devote himfelf to the order, he con-firms his confent with a folemn oath, of which the following is a part, " / vow -an eternal fiknce^ an inviolable obedience and fidelity to all my fuperiors^ and to the Jiatutes of the order. With refped to what may be the objed of the order ^ I fully and abfolutely renounce my own penetration, and my own judgment, I promife to look upon the interefls of the order as my own \ and as long as I fhall be a member of it, / promife to ferve it with my life, my honor, and my eflates^ Having iigned this oath, and with a fword pointed at his breaft, being threatened with unavoidable vengeance, from which no potentate on earth can defend him, ftiould he betray the order, he commxcnces
Minerval, and becomes a member of a
96 Broofs of ihc E^'^--
lodge.* Here illuurhiifm commences its con- iTe<5llon with Mafoiiry ; and here thofe, who do not difcover a difpofition fully compliant with the views of their guides, are left to divert themfelves with the three degrees of apprentice, fellowcraft, and ni after, and never attain any further acquaintance with liiumin- iiin. B.it this, it v/as foiind, vf ould aof fat- isfy all candidates, and in particular, thofe. "^hp had previouily been members of lodges ; '^'-^ ^ Intermediate degrees were therefore add- . the minor and major lUuminee, and . . . jii iKnight.
1 he ivi I nervals hold frequent meetings nrb- Ucr the diredion of fome more illuminated fuperior. Thefe meetings are profelfedly de- ■\ oted to literary purfuits, but particular care is taken to give the difcullions a direction which ffiail coincide with the deiigns of lilu- minifm. That /ukide is lawful under pr effing dangers and calamities ; that the end fanclifi^s the ?neans^ or that theft and murder become com- mendable w^hen committed to advance a good caufe, are fentiments frequently brought into view in the meetino^s of the Minervals. From
o
thefe difcullions the fupcriors judge of the * Barrud's Memoirs, Vol. III. Chap, 4,
and EffcHs of Tihnnimfm, 97
propriety of adv^ancing the candidate to the next degree, which is that of*
Jllumtnalus Minor, The members of this clafs have m.eetings fimilar to thofe of the former degree, but their inftruclors are taken only from among thofe who have attained the rank of prieft, and who are directed to labor to remove what, in the language of Illuminifm, is termed political and religious prejudices. The candidates are now to be formed for ufeful laborers. They are put upon ftudying the fecret arts of controiing the mind, of feizing the favorable moment, of difcovering and addrefllng the ruling paf- fion, of acquiring a pliancy and verfatility of addrefs, and of concealing their views and feelings from others. As they are found qualified, they have more or lefs of the mi- nerval degree committed to their infpeclion.
Previous to his advancement to the next de- gree, the candidate is fubje6led to another Icrutinizing examination refpecling his views, and devotednefs to the interefts of Illuminifm.
'■'' RobIfon'£ Proofs, p, 9B, Barruel-s Memoirs, Vol III, Cbap, 5.
98 proofs of the Extjlence
He is likewife required to give the order a new proof of his confidence, by exhibiting an exact record of his whole life written with- out refervation. The defign of the Inftitutor .in requiring this, appears from his own re- marks on this part of his code ; " Iho^jo I hold him; if he jhoidd wifo to betray us^ %ve have alji his fecrets,''^
The hiftory which the candidate gives of "himfelf, is compared with the one already ^formed, in the records of the order, from the returns made by his Inftruclor, and the difcoveries of invifible fpies, in which, every thing relating to his character, abilities, weak- neiTes, paffions, profpe6ls, attachments, aver- fions, education, and even language, gait, and phyflognomy, are noticed in perhaps fif- teen hundred particubrs. To imprefs the mind of the adept with the ftrongeft fenfe of the activity of the order, and the folly of expelling to cfcape its vigilance, this portrait of himfelf is put into his hands, and he is again queflioned refpeding his difpofition to .unite with fuch a fociety.
The difpofition of the candidate being founded by a new feries pf queftions, and hav- ing repeated the former oaths of fecrecy, and
and EffeSls of lllumhnfm, 99
devotednefs to the order, he paffes through the initiating forms, by which he becomes*
Illuminatus Major ^ or Scotch Novice. It is impoilible, I find, in this brief fivetch, to give a full view of the llow,' artful, and iniidious procefs by which the mind is powerfully, though infenfibly, drawn from the poildlion of its former principles, and fired with a fanciful idea of fcon attaining the regions of fubliuie wifdom.
The adept has ftlll an Inflruacr, who now calls him to attend to the miferies under which mankind are groaning, and the ineill- cacy of all the means uf^cl for their relief. This is attributed to the reftraints to Vvdncli they are fubjeaed by princes and the priefi- hood. The importance oi fur rounding the povj- crs of the earth with inv if ble agents^ and inferfibly binding their hands ^ and the neceflity of union among the friends of Riffering hum.anity, to accomplifli this defirable end, are flrongly in- culcated. The. tradable pupil has but one grade more to afcend before he enters the fe- crets of Illumdnifm, This is term.ed by the fedthef
* Roblfon's Proofs, p. 102— ic56. Earruel's Memoirs, Vol. III. Chap. 6 and 7.
t Earruel's Memoirs,, Vol IIL Chap. 7,
i oo Proofs of the Exljtence
Scotch Knight, In tlie late mafonic revo- lution, this new degree, Vvliich had been brought from France, was adopted by feveral of the German lodges. The welcome reception which thofe of this degree met with in all the lodges, determined the Illuminees to unite it with their fyilem.. This becomes a St a hene^ or tVitio.nary degree, to fiich as they fee fit to ad- vance above the common degrees of Mafonry, but are not judged worthy of being admitted ") the hi3:her fecrcts.
Initead of the Icencs of darknefs and horror which attended the introduction to the other degfrees, the candidate is now introduced into a fplendid lodge, where all the Knights are prefent in the habiliments of their order ; and here, he is told, is a part of thofe unknown legions, united by indilToluble bands, to defend the caule of humanity.
In the courfe of the ceremonies, Jefus Chrijl is declared to be the grand mafter of the order ^ the enemy of fuperftition, and alTerter of reafon ; and in comim-cmoration of him, a mockrepre- fcntation is exhibited of the Lord's Supper.
The inftruclions given the new Knight, direct him to promote the increafe of Eclecl:k
and Efeth of Illumlnifnu loi
Mafonry ; to endeavor to gain an afcendancy in all oiher mafonic lodges, either to reform or deflroy them j and, as far as poiilble, to con- vert their funds to the advancement of the caufe of Illuminifm.*
Here we come to the door vvhich leads to the m.yileries of IlluminifLii 5 and here we mufl leave behind all thofe, who, though pleaf- ed with romanti<: ideas of Cofmopolitifm^ and of undermining what appeared to them fuper- flition, and v/ho, > under thefe impreilions, might adively difcharge the inftruclions laft received, yet were not to be truiled with the higher myileries of Uiuminiim,
The reader will naturally contlude, that ali« who were admitted. to this order, were not fubjecled to thefe tedious preparatory forms ; fomewere found (as Knigge for inftance) who met the warm.eft wiilies of the fociety, and without any preparation were introduced to its myfteries.
I 2
Proof?; p. 141 to 145, Meir.oirs, Vol III. Chap. %.
rc2 Proofs of the ExijUncs
CHAP. VII.
The Mvjlerlcs and Government of the Order,
W E mud not expect, on entering tliefe fecret chambers, to find the veil which con- ceals the real defigns or the Illuminees wholly removed. The terrifying imprelTions of the rope, which Weliliaupt was ^o confcious of meriting, kept him much behind the curtain. This induced him to divide his myfteries into the leffer and the greater, tTich of which have two departments, one relating chiefly to Religion, and the other to Politics. The firft degree in the leffer myfleries is that of the
Epopt, or Pricfi. As introdudory to this degree, federal queftions are propofed to the candidate, which i«iply, that no religion, government, or civil affociation on earth, correfponds with the wants of mankind j and that fecret focieties are the fafe, and on- ly effectual remedies to fupply this defe6l. He ia alked, and the (lueftiga merits the
and Effecls of llluminlfnu 1 03
confideration of thofc who ridicule the apprc- henfion of _danger from Illuminifin, " Have
you any idea offecretfocieties ; of the rank they hold ^ or the farts they -perform in the events of this world ? Do you vieiv them as inftgnifcant and tran- ftent meteors ? O brother ! God and Nature had their admirable ends in view, and they make ufe of thefe fecret focieties as the only, and as the indifpenfible, means of conducting us thither. Thefe fecret fchools of philofophy fhall one day retrieve the fall of hwnian nature^ and princes and nations floal I difapp ear from the face of the earthy and that without any violence, Reafou fhall be the only book of laws^ the f ok code of man!'''
The objed of the fecret of Jefus, he is told, was to reinilate mankind in their original lib- erty and equality, but that this fecret was dif- clofed only to a few. In proof of this he quotes thefe words of Chrift. '' To you is given to know the myilery of the kingdom of God ; but to them that are without, all things are done in parables.'
'J*
This do(flrine, the profelyte Is then told, is the origin of Mafonry, and the true explana- tion of its hieroglyphics. The rough flone of
* Mark, iv. J2,
104 Proofs of the Exijicncf
Mafonry, is the fymbol of the primitive flate of man, favage, but free. The ftone fpiit, reprefents the flate of faileu nature, of man- kind divided according to their ftates, gov- ernments, or religions.
On this occafion the profelytCp previous tc his receiving the prieftly unction, is invefted with a white tunic ; the lieeve is tied at the extremity and middle with bandages of fcarlet, and he wears a broad filken belt of the fame color. This drefs is particularly defcribed, be- cauie it was in a fimilar one that, during the French revolution, a comedian appeared per- fonally attacking Almighty God, faying, ''No 1 thou doft not ez^-dft. If thou haft power over the thunder bolts, grafp them y aim them at the m.a-n who dares fet thee at dehance in the face of thy altars. But no, I blafoheme thee, and I Hill live. No, thou doll not exift.'^* The next degree in the leiler myfterics is that of the
Recent. As preparatory to the intro- duclion of the candidate to this degree, he is brought to the lodge in the habit of a Have loaded with chains. " It is inquired, who reduced him to that mxofl miferable of all con-
* Proofs, p. 14510 151. Memoirs, Vol. III. Cfnn. 10.
and Effects of Ulumhiijh, 1 05
dkiorxS ? It is anfwcred, focicty, govcrnnieiits, the Iciences, and falfe religion. A voice from within denies him entrance, declaring, that none but freemen can enter there. His guide then anfwers for him, that his will is to be free ; that he has been illuminated ; flies from his tyrants, and fecks refuge among freemen."
It is needlefs to detail the hacknied fenti- ments found in the in[lruc1:ions given on this occafion, as, excepting the mode of expreiling them, they are very iimilar to thofe -which have been already mentioned, and which will be found in their private correfpondcnce lefs veiled in myilery.
One part of thefe inftruclions, however, ar- refts the attention, which follows ; '* The great flrength of our order lies in its concealment ; let it never appear in any place in its own name, but always covered by another name, and another occupation. None is fitter than the three lower degrees of Free Mafonry ; the public is accuf- tomed to it^ expeds little from it^ and therefore takes little notice of it. Next to this^ the form of a literary focicty is befl fuited to our purpofesJ'
Upon the admiilion of the Regent, his for- mcr oaths and iecrets are relinquiilied, with
1 06 Proofs of I be Exiflence
an expreilion of entire confidence in his firm- nefs ; and in return he gives the order an in- flrument, legally executed, by which they are empowered, in cafe of his deceafe, to claim any private papers v/ith v/hich he may be cntruiled.*
Such were the lelTcr myfleries of the Illu^ minees. Thofe w^hich they term the greater, v/ere likev/ife diilineuiflied into tliofe of Ma- jus^ or Philofopher, and i?^x, or Man King. Thefe degrees were not found with the other writings \ and the caufe appears in a letter from Spartacus (Weifhaupt) to Cato, in which, fpeaking of one of his higher degrees, he fays, "I never fufTer it to go cut of myhands. // h of too ferious an import,'' ' Philo, (Knigge) who it feems afTrfted in forming the higher degrees, writes to the fame perfon ; " I have made ufc of fuch precaution in the degrees of of Epopt, and of Regent^ that I fhould not be afraid of conferring them on Kings or Popes, provided they had undergone the proper pre- vious trials. In our laft myfleries we have acknowledged this fioiL' fraud. ' ' t
* Proofs, p. 15110 154. Memoirs, Vol. III. Ch» 1 1, 15-. t Barrud's Memoirs, Vol. III. Chap. 12.
and Effeds of lllumtnifm. 107
Dr. Robifon here quotes the publiilier of "the Neuefte Arbitung, and Grollman ; and Abbe Barruel quotes Biederman, and a writer, who had left his name with the editors of the Eudemonia, (a Journal printed at Franckfort -on the Main) to be publiihed if neceflary, who all profefs to have read thefe degrees, and -unite in their teflimony, " that in the degree <of Majus the doclrines are the fame with thofe .of Spinoza, where all is material. God and :the world are the fame thing, and all religions ,are reprefented as chimerical, and the inven- tion of ambitious men." The fecond degree, • or Rex^ teaches, " that, every citizen, or houfe- holder is a fovereign, as in the Patriarchal ftate ; that all authority, and all magiilracy mull be deflroyed, and that democratic gov- ernments are not more confonant v/ith nature than any others."*
The reader doubtlefs will remark the incon« fiftency between thefe fentiments upon gov- ernment, and the attempt which Weifliaupt was then making to render the government of the Illuminees univerfal and abfolute. All that appears to remove this inconiiftency, is to be found under the degree of Regent,
* Proofs, p, 158. Mem. Vol. III. Ch, 12. and Note.
I o8 Proofs of the Exijlence
where, in a feries of queftlons, tlie candidate is led to fay, " That mankind ought to think themfelves happy in \\2.v\t.<2^ fuperlors of tried 7nerit; and who, unknown to each other, could not polTibly fupport each other in treafonable combinations againft the general welfare ; and that, fuppofmg defpotifra were to enfue, it could not be dangerous in the hands of men, who from the very iirft ftep we took in the order, taught us no-tiling but fcience^ liberty and 'Virtue.''*
Having thus traced the artful procefs by which Weiihaupt led his difciples to expe6l, like the deluded parents of our race, to become as Gods, but which, in facl, was calculated to deprive them of light, truth, and righteouf- nefs ; we here fubjoin a brief view of the arrangement and governmental regulations of the fociety. At the head of the order, Iiowever cxtenilve, is the
General ; to whom regular returns are to be made of whatever relates to its general, or more particular interefts. A conftant com- munication and correfpondence is to be pre- ferved between him and the
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol III. p. 133.
j/i?c/ Ljfcth of lUu-mnipu. 109
Arcopagiics^ or councilor twelve, wlio com« peie the next degree in the general govern- ment. The General of the order is to be elected by this councij, and from their own number, and to them only is lie known, ex- cept to fuch immediate coniidents, agents, and f€cret?,ries as he fliall fee fit to employ. The bnfmefs of this fupreme coimcil is to receive the returns that are made, and prepare them for the infpeclion of the General ; and they are particularly ciireded to " project and ex- amine plans to be adopted for gradually ena- bling the fociety to attack the enem.y of rea- fon and human nature, /i?;y^;^^//v." Next in oilicc is the
K^fmial Dlre^or ; who fuftains the fame relation to the liluminees of a particular na- tion, which the General does to the whole or- der. The views of the fociety were not con- fined to one nation. He too, as the General, has his council of twelve.* Subordinate to liim are the
Provincials^ who have the direclion of the affairs of the order in the feveral provinceso
* Bavrud's Memoii-s, Vol. III. Chnp.. 18,
1 1 o Proofs of the Exijiaice
The Provincial is empowered to aiiemble fuch regents of his province as he iliall chooie to afiift in council.* The next in dignity, though not in the direct line. of the general arrangement, is the
Becvu He is chofen by the Epopts, and prefides in their academy. The
Epopts, or Priefis^ form a curious and im- portant part in the general fyftem. From this clafs is formed an academy or cham.ber of fclence, confiiling of their mod learned men in the various arts and fciences. The perfons compofmg this academy, were to be fupport- ed by the funds of the focicty, that they might devote their tivcic to the objecls of their appointment. All queftions of diiliculty pro- pofed by any of the inferior degrees, were re- quired to be given In writing, to their imme- diate fuperiors, and by them tranfmitted to the academy for folution ; from thence, in the fame channel, the querift received his an- fwer, but from a fource to him unknown. The reader will obferve the tendency of this inftitutlon to promote the literary reputation of the order, and to perfuade the adept that
* BarrucPs Memoirs, Vol. IIL Ch:ip. jy.
and Effccls of llhtralmfm, iii
he is conncclccl with the fountain head of fciencc.
" T/je Occi'Jf Sciences^'' form one branch par- ticularly recommended to the attention of the academy, under which is comprehended. *^ The ftudy of tlic oriental tongues, and others little known ; fccret rneihods of writ- ing, and the art of decyphering j the art cf ra'ijiug the Jails cf the letters of others^ and of preferving their own from hmihr practices^ the ftudy of ancient and modern liicroglyph- ics, of fecret focieties, mafonlc fyftems, &c.* Subordinate to the Provincial, In a direcl line, we find the
Prefcds^ each of which may have the in- fpetflion of ciglit lodges, in whofe meetinf^s they are required to preiide. To thefe, prin- cipally, IS entrufted the care cf the lov/er part of the edifice.
The regents alone are eligiWe to the above ofHces ; and thofe of this degree who have no p.irticular appointments, are charged vA'di the general infpedion of the lower orders, and to Rudy the advancement of the intercfts of the fociety by all pofTible means,
^^ BarruePs Memoirs, Vol TIL Chap. 14,
112 Pro:fs of the Esijldiice
A degree of iupcrviforralp and infpeCciuii is likcwife committed to the Scotch Knights, und even to the IMajor and Mhior Illuminees, over the Mlncrvai, and other preparatory claiTes, but at the fame time they themfelves are under the conilant inrpeclion of Prefecls and Regents, to whom alone the real' views of the order arc known.'*
The inrtructions [riven to thefe feveral aG:ents oF Illuminifm, v^'ould ferve greatly to unfold the art, and difcover the object, ox the inlli- tution. They are a compound of wdiatever the higheil machivclian policy could fuggefl:, to conceal, and yet advance the ends of the fubtle prelector, and to acquire and maintain a tyrannical afcendency over the .u^.lnds of men ; but they are too numerous to be introduced here.j
Very jufl: is the remark made by ProfefTor Rcnner, one of the deponents on the fubjed. That tie great firoigih of the order confjls in its invlflbility, A brother may know the fecrets of his ciafs, and thofe of an inferior one, but all above Jiim are entirely unknown ; unlefs his fupcriors have conferred on him the com--
* B;irruel'3 Memoirs, Vol. III. Chap. i6. f Ibid
p. 17^ 24^.
and Effetls of lUumlnljiiu 1 1 3
muTion of Direclor, Vifitor, or Spy. The chiefs, by this method, watch an inferior, while they themfelves are concealed ; they know how far he is devoted to the order, and true to the fecrets with which he is entrufted. If he has doubts, to whom can he reveal them v/ith confidence, v/hen the perfon to whom he commits himfelf, may be one employed to fift him, and who encourages his confidence only to betray. him f
"An advantage ilill more important, refults from this concealment, for iliould any one be difpofed, he is incapable of difcovering the fu- fuperiors of the order, v/hile they at the fame time can give their fupport to any of the ac- cufed without a fufpicicn, perhaps, of being, connected with them,"
Tins inviiibility, as they call it, of the real iliuminees, it may be imagined excludes all communication from the lovvcr to the fupcrior degrees ; whereas, in facl, any perfon belong- ing cO the lower grades may exhibit a com- plaint againft his inftrudor, or aik any privi- lege of tlie Provincial, National, or General, accordine; to his ftandino;, while at the fame time he remains wholly ignorant of the perfon he addrcffes, and even of the place of his refi- K 2
1 14 F roofs cf the E:aJ}e7ice
dencc. Indeed, tlie inferiors of the order are required to make, in this way, a monthly re- turn to their inviiible fuperiors, of the condu<5t of thofe under their infoeclion, and of what- ever they concei%'e m?.terkuly int-erelllng- to the inftitution.
This curious correfpondence is condu^led in the foHo\ving manner : A letter, with the di- rection of S^jjibus Licef^ i. e. to whom it be- longs, and marked with the fign of the clafs of which the writer is a micmber, is opened by the next fuperiars. Thofe having the ad* dition of Soli or Pr'unOj are conveyed to the Provincial, National, or General, according to the rank of the writer, and the directioa which is given, whether Soli or Frimo*
* Eobifoii's Proofs, p. 177. Barruel's Trlemoir'5, VoL..
III. f: 225,. Vol.. IV. p. 145 to 149,
end Fffc^s of llluvnnifm, 115
G H A P. VIIL
The Difccvery of the Sc8.
^Y^
i HE firft alarm was given by a difcov- ry of many dangerous publications which were fecretly circulated ; fevcral of theie were traced back to the lodge Theodore, of which vVei«. fliaupt was a member. Friendly remonftrances were firft made by the Ele^ior of Bavaria, on the fubjecl, but thefe abufes continuing, he ordered a judicial inquiry into the proceedings of this lodge. It was found that this, and feveral aiTociated lodges, v/ere preparatory fchools for another order of Mafons, who de- nominated themfelves
'Xke Illuminated^ Several called Minervals, were faid to belong to this order, but the per- fons, by whom they were admitted, were un- known. Some of tliefe were privately exam- ined by the EkaoT himfe]£ They faid they were bound to fccrccy ) but they aifured the
Ii6 Proofs cf thcLxiJlcnce^
Elc(ftor, on their honor, that the aim of the order was ufeful both to church and ftate.
This not relieving the public anxiety, an order was publifhed on the 2 2d of June, 1784^ forbidding all fecret alTemblies, and fhutting up the Mafon lodges. The members of the lodge Theodore diflinguifhed themfelves by a pointed oppofition to this order ; reprobat- ing the prohibition as cruel, and continuing their meetings. By a fubfequent edicl, the order of the Illuminees was abolifhed, and fearch was made, in tlie lodge Theodore, for papers ; none of importance, however, wxre found.
In 1 7 85, four ProfelTors of the Marianen Academy, viz. Utfchneider, Cofandey, Ren- ner, and Grunberger, with fome others, who appear to have withdrawn from the order, un- der a ccnvifiiion of its evil tendency, were fummoned before a court of inquiry^ None of thefe had been admitted to the miyfleries, yet their evidence was. alarming. Their teflimony agreed with what has been relat- ed refpecling the lower degrees, and they further declared, '' that, in the lodges, fenfaal pleifares were advocated, and felf- murder juilified, on epicurian and ftoical. principles ^ that death was reprefcnted as an
and Effects of lllumiuifiiu i i 7
eternal fle.p ; patriotifrn and loyalty were call- ed narrow-minded prejudices, incompatible with univerfal benevolence. Nothing was^To frequently difcufled as the propriety of em- ploying, for a good purpofe, the means whi^h the wicked employed for evil purpofes."
Tliefe depofitions, given feparately, under oath, and the iignature of the deponents, were perfectly harmonious ; but the moft oiTenfive parts were denied by the Illuminees, and much clamor v/as raifed. Weifiiaupt, however, was deprived of his ProfeiTor's chair, arid baniilied from Bavaria. Ke went iiril to RegeniBurg, and afterwards entered into the fervice of the Duke of Saxe Gotha, whofe name in the or- der was Timoleon.*-
In 1786, a colledion of cng*nal'p-apers and correfpondence, was found in the houfe of counfellor Zwack ; and fooifi after, a much larger colleclion in the caftle of Sanderdorf, belonging to Baron Baffus. This colleclion has been pubhilied, by order of the Elector, under the title of " Original Writings,^'' From thefe papers, principally, were taken the
* T^obiron's Proofs, p. 8 c to 89, Bairuel's Meirtoirs, . Vol IV. Chap, 7,
A iS I^ roofs of the Exiftence
details refpccling the code and government of the Illuminees.* Some extracts from the epil- tolary part of thefe writings will now be pre- fcnted to the reader, more fully to bring into view the objed of the order, and the means adopted to attain this objecl.
Spartacus, writing to Cato, on the fubjecl of eftablifhing a peculiar morality and religion, fitted for the great body of mankind, fays, " But this is a ticklifh projecl, and requires the utmoft circumfped:ion. The fqueamilh will ftart at the fight of religious and political novelties ; and tliey mull be prepared for them. We mull be particularly, careful about the books we recommend. I fhall confme them at firft to moralifls, and reafoning hiflo- rians. Robinet^ Miraheau^ the Social S\fiem^ Nat- ural Polity^ the Phllofophy of Nature^ and fuch works are referved for our higher degrees. At prefent they mud not even be mentioned to our adepts, and particularly Hehetius on Man.'' The reader here fees a lift of the moil anti-religious, atheiiliical produclions, and that they are referv^ed for the laft myileries. " Ma- rius," he adds, " an excellent man, mud be dealt with. His flomach, which cannot yet
* Robifon's Proofs, p. lo-. Barrucl's Memoirs. Vcl.
in. p. .45.
end Llffcfts of lllumlnlfnu 1 19
digeft fuch ftrong food, muft acquire a better tone."* But after all the cautious ileps of the leader, Knigge, in a letter to Zwack, e» prelTes his apprehenilons, that "-^ fuch afupcra- bundance cf atbeifmzvoidd betray the tendency of the feci toofoon*^\
Brutus writes, "Numenius (Count KolIo\i- rath) now acquiefces in the mortality of the foul, but, I fear we fliall lofe Ludovicus Bava- rus. He told Spartacus that he was miftaken when he thought that he had fwallowed his ftupid Mafonry/'l
Weifliaupt, writing to Cato, an account of Jiis degree of priefls, fays, " One would al- moil imagine, that tKis degree, as 1 have man- aged itj is real Chriflianity. In this fenfe, no man need be afhamicd of being a Chrift- ian, for I preferve the name, and fubflitute re^fon.'^S
* Robifun's rrocfs, p^ IC9. B.arruePs Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 43,
t BaiTuel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. Obfervations, p. 8.
X Robifon's Proofs, p. 1 69.
^ Robifon's Proofs, p. 119, BarrueP^ Memoirs, VoL TILp. 144.
r^o Ft oofs of the Ex/lcJ'ce
The Areopagites, though united in their ob- jcfl, appear to have differed much with refpe<9: to the bed means of attaining it ; while fome were fearful of alarming the adepts by too hafty difcoveries, others were difgufted with the tedious flownefs of this procefs of deceit. Minos (Baron Dittfurt) '* wanted to intro- duce atheifm at once, and not go hedging in the manner they did ; aihrming, it was eafier to lliow at once that a^theifm was friendly to fociety, than to explain all their mafonic Chriflianity, which they were afterwards to iliow to be a bundle of lies'' "^ Language cannot furnifh a phrafe, more defcriptive than this, of the nature of liluminifm j the whole fyftem was "a bundle of lies," a plan of concealed falfehood and deception. The means perfe6lly corref- pond with the defign of the projectors, and fufiiciently explain the nature of that defign.
We have 'before been led to notice the im- portance which thefe confpirators attribute to fecret focieties, as the main fpring of their de- ilruclive machinery. While they are perpet- ually reminding each other, that here lay their hopes of fuccefs, it becomes us not to lofe fight of this engine of mifchicf. The follow- ing^ is an extract from a lecture, which Wei-
HJ
Robifoa's Proofs, J), 135.
and Effeds cf lllumimfnu 1 2 1
ihaupt read to his adepts on this fubjed, '" When the objc6l is an univerfal revolution, all the members of thefe focieties muft find means of governing invifibly, and without any appearance of violence, men of all flations, of all nations, and of every religion. Infmuate the fam.e fpirit every where. In iilence, but with the greateft activity poillble, direcl the feat* tered inhabitants of the earth toward the fame point." In proof of the importance of fuch a fecret union, he reafons thus : " The fiighteft obfervation (hews that nothing will fo much contribute to increafe the zeal of the members as fecret union. We fee with what keennefs and zeal the frivolous bufmefs of Free Mafon- ry is conducted by perfons knit together by the fecrecy of their union.''*
Among their plans of deception was found a fcheme " for a public literary academy, to confift of two clalles of men ; the one of m^en remarkable for their zeal in religion, the other of profound Illuminees, Each mxmbcr to wear on his bread a medal with this infcrip- tion, Religwni ct Scienfiisy' (to religion and
* Barraql's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. i8> Rcbifoti's Proofs, p. 93,
%22 Proofs of the Exifkuce
fciences.)* " ^nd no marvel ; for Satan hinf:^ is trans formed into an angel of light, ^^
Spartacus, writing to C^to, fays, ^' There niuft not a fingle purpofe come in fight that is ambiguous, and that may betray our ' aims againft religion and the ftate. That we may be uncontroled in our difcourfe, let our pu- pils rem^irk that the fuperiors enjoy great lat- itude in that refpecl ; that wc fo?netiines fpeak in ®ne waVy and fonietlnies in another^ only to found the opinions of thpfe we converfe with.'* This the pupil is told ; but he is not told that the real delign is, to fecure a retreat, when they have incautioufly gone too far ; and to ^•ender their real fentiments impenetrable tp their inferiors. "f
Among the inftruclions which Weiihaupt gives his difciples, " he exhorts, and ferioufly admoniflies thofe who have the care of rare books or precious manufcripts, in the libraries of princes, ricbles, and religious orders, to take them for the benefit of thofe to whom 4hey would be more ufefd." .Sending a lift pi what he would have taken from the libra-
* Berruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. Obfervation, p. 9. ', Tb^Ll Vol. in. p. 177. Robiren^s Proofs, p. 119.
and Effetls of llluminifm. 1 2 J
ry of the Cannes, he fays, " a/I thefe ivoidd he cf much greater iife if they were in our hands. What do thofe rafcah do vAth all ihcfe hooks V^
Writing to Cato on the fame fubjecl he fays, " Marius (keeper of the archives of the Electorate) has ferreted out a noble document, which we have got. He makes it, forfooth, a cafe of confcience. How filly that ; iince only that is fn^ which is ultimately produclivc of mifchief. In this cafe, where the advan^ tage far exceeds the difadvantage, it is msriiC' rious virtue J*^^
But not fatisned with robbing mankind of their money and books, he contrived as un- juftly to pilfer their fame, and appropriate to his order, their deferved reputation. At one time his direction is, '* to endeavor to gain, or ruin every riiing character." At another, he gives the Regents the following inflrudions ; " It is very proper to make your inferiors be- lieve, without telhng them the real ftate of the cafe, that all other fecret focieties, particu- larly that of Free Mafonry, are fecretly di- rected by us. Or elfe, and it is really the fac't in fome ftates. that do tent nicnarchs are eov- erned by our order. When any thing re-
^* Robifon's Proofs, p. no. Earruel's Memoirs, VoL IIL p. 57.
124 Proofs of the Exijlence
markablc or important conies to pals, hint that it orighiated with our order. Should any perfon. by his merit acquire a great reputation ^ let it be generally iinderficod that he is one ofiis*^^*
There was found in the hand writing c^ Zwack, a project for a hilerhood. It contains the following pailages. " It will be of great fervice^ and procure us much information and money, and will fuit charmingly many of our trued members, who are lovers of the fex. It ilioukl coniiit of two dalles, the virtuous, and the freer hearted ; they muft not know each other, and m/afc be under the direclion of men, but without knov/ing it. Proper books muft be put into their hands, and fuch (but fecretly) as are flattering to their pailions.'*
A lift and defcription of eighty five young ladies of Manheim, was found w^ith this pro- ved. Minos makes an oiler of his v/ife, and his four daughters in law to be the firft adepts. "Theeldcil/' he fays, " is excelknt. She is twenty four, has read much, is above all pre- judices, and in religion, thinks as I do,''
It appears that the inftitution of a lodge was attempted at Frankfort, and a difcourfe^
* BaiTuel's Memoirs, Vol> IIL p, 204.,
and Effeds of lllumlnifm. r^ig
as delicate as the fentiments of fuch men could conceive, was prepared for the occalion. Af- t€r much of the tortuous eloquence of Illumin- ifm, the orator thus addreiTes his fair affem- bly. " Rejoice in the dawn of Illumination and freedom. Nature at lail enjoys her facred never fading rights. Long v/as her voice kept dov^n by civil fubordination ^ but the days of your majority now draw nigh, and you will nro longer, under the authority of guardians, account it a reproach to confider with en- lightened eyes the fecret work fliops of na- ture, and to enjoy your work and duty." Minos thought this very fine, but it raifed a ter- ribie ditturbance, and broke up the alTembly**
Among thefe papers was likewife found the defcriptlon of a ftrong box, which, if forced open, would blow up and deflroy the con- tents ; feveral receipts for procuring abortion ; a compofition which blinds or kills when thrown in the face ; a- method for filling a bed chamber with peftilential vapors ; the fecret of taking oii and imitating the imprellions of feals, fo as to ufe them afterwards j a coilec-
L 2
''foil's Proofs, p. no, 137, S^S' Barruel'sMe^ - TIL p. 24.
: 20 Proofs of the E^iftenee
tion of one hundred and thirty feals of prin- ces, nobles, clergymen, merchants, &c. a re- ceipt ad excltandum furorem uterinam ; a manufcript entitled, " Better than Horus,'^ which contained all the blafphemies of athe- ifm ; a diiTertation on fuiclde : alfo injunctions to all the fuperiors to learn to write with both handi ; and that they fhould ufe more than one cypher.
The reader, perhaps, will find it difficult to conceive Iiow this horrid artillery could be made conducive to the ends which the order profeifed to have in view, the advancement of relig-ion, and focial sjood. The Illuminees have furnifhed us with a folution. " This apparatus, they faid, was with propriety in the hands of counfellor Zwack who was a judge of a criminal court, and whofe duty it was to know fuch things/* Admitting this^ one thing flill remains unaccounted for, viz. how they come to be put with the papers of the Illiiminees ?*
In confequence of thefe difcoveries, fomc were depofed from offices they fuftained, and feveral baniHied. Apologies, and partial rep-
* Robifon's Proofs; p. iii, U2. BarrueVs Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 167.
andEffeBs of Illuminifnu 127
refentations of Illuminifm were publiflied, and great was the outcry of cruelty which refounded from all quarters \ while others, imputed the lenity of government on this occa- fion, to the inviftble influence which the order had gained over the meafures of the court.*
It appears that Illuminifm had made a prog- refs proportionate to the zeal of the adors 5 Bavaria alone is faid to have contained about fix hundred. Three of the witnefles above mentioned declare, " that while connected with the order, they were feveral times in» formed that it had extended to Italy, to Ven=» ice, to Auftria, to Holland, Saxony on the Rhine, and even to America.'' In the original writings feveral lodges in America are put on the lift. This was before 1786,
A report refpecling the progrefs of the or- der in Greece (Bavaria,) was found among the papers of Zwack, in his hand writing, which prefents an alarming view of the prev- alence of Illuminifm, at a time when the public fcarcely knew that the order was in exiftence. After m.entioning a num/oer of lodges, under the diredion of the Illuminees,
* Barrud's Memoirs, Vol> IV. Ghap. 8.
12? Proofs of the E>:\flence
in feveral parts of the eleclorate, it is nOted^ " At Munich we have bought an houfe, and have taken our meafures fo wellj that they even fpeak of us v/ith efteem. This is a great deal for this city. We have a good mufeum of natural hiftory, and apparatus for experi- ments. The garden is well occupied by bo- tanic fpecimens, and the whole has the ap- pearance of a fociety of zealous naturalifts.''
" The Dowager Duchefs has ^tfC up her^ L academy entirely according to our plan. All »' the ProfelTors are of cur order ^ and ail the pu- pils will be ours."
^' On the recoirxiTiendation of the brethren^ Fylades is made the ecclefaftkal ffcal councellor^ and has the church money at his difpofaL By properly ufmg this money, we have already repaired the mal-admiRiftration of — ' — , and of ^ and have affifted more brethren un- der fimilar misfortunes.''
*• The brethren who are in orders have all" been provided with livings and curacies, or %vith preceptor's places."
" All the German fchools, and t^v^ benevo- lent focieties, are at •;; ft v^'-lr^ ' "
etnd Effcds of Uhminifnu 1 29^
" We £hall ihortly be mailers of the Bartholomew inftitution for the education of
young ecclefiatics. By this means ive Jloall be able to Jlock all Bavaria with priefts both clever and' proper,^'
" We have at length got the remaining revenues of the Jefuits under the control of the order. This coil our fenate fome nights want of lleep."*
This difcovery very much difconcerted the plans of the Illuminees, but it did not alter their habits or principles. Under a new name, and with new agents, we lliall find them, in the following chapter, purfuing the fame ob- jed, and we ihall fee the long train which in- fidelity has been preparing, kindled into an explofion which has changed the face of Eu- rope, and been felt by remote nations.
He who habituates his mind to ferious re- fieaions, and is fuitably difpofed to derive in- ilruaion from the fcenes around him, will find means of im.provement, even among thefe difgufting objeds. He will at leaft, feel his-
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 1 55—159. Barruel's MejnoirS; . Vol. IV. p. 161, 57 — 59.
130" Proofs of the Exijlence
ina^livlty in a worthy caufe reproved. By the labors, the zeal, the unremitting perfeverance of thefe agents of deftrudion ; for who can- boaft an equal engagednefs, a mind equally awake to feize every opportunity and advan-- tage, for promoting the caufe of religion and the good of fociety, with v/hat thefe men dif- cover, in laboring for the deftruftion of both I
M2;d Efffcis of Tdummfriu 1 3 j
^f t^'it*" t«>^aa**-M-ii].i.mm» juii,»-j.mkj]n nmw
CHAP. IX.
fHE GERMAN UNIOK
jTX NOTE, tranfmitted from Germany *to England, appeared in the Monthly Maga- zine of January, 1798 ; in which the public <were allured, " that from the beginning of the year 1790, every .concern of the lilumin- ati has ceafed, and no lodge of Free Mafons in Germany, has, fmce that period, taken the lead notice of them."* It is worthy of re- mark, that this certificate implicitly acknowl- edges, that until 1790, the Illuminees did ex- ift, and were conneded with the lodges of Free Mafons in Germany ; yet thofe, who en- deavored to convince the public of their ex- igence, at the time in which it is here ac- knowledged, were as conteniptuoufly fcoutedj as thofe are, who now believe the fubjed im.« portant to mankind.
* Barrviers Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 3S9.
;i-^32 Proofs of the Exiftence
But are fuch men as Weifliaupt and his coadjutors, thus eafily beat off from their purpofes ? Do fuch Ethiopians fo readily change their fldn ? No, Weifhaupt himfelf, has fufEciently, though unintentionally, warn- ed us not to depend on fuch declarationso Writing to Cato, he fays, " I have forefeen every thing ; I have prepared every thing. Let my whole order go to rack and ruin ; in three years 1 will anfvver to reftore it, and that to a more powerful flate than it was in before. Obllacies only Simulate my activity/'*
How far he was aclive, after his banifh- ment, in promoting the caufe of Illuminifm,! does not appear, but a new confederation, on umilar principles, and purfuing the fame ob- jecl, was formed, called the German Union. It was expedient that known llluminees ihould take a lefs adive part in this new arrange- ment. Probably the advice which v/as found in the hand writing of Cato, was adopted on this occafion, which was this : " In order to re-eftablilli our affairs, let fomc of the ableft of thofe brethren, who have avoided our misfor- tunes, take the place of our founders."!
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. iV. p. 1 30c i- Ibid;.p. 1,78?
t:ud ILjfcCh of luLiiimujm* 13;^
The Illuniinees, in projecling this fecond part, appear to have taken their clue from the followins: exiftini^ circurnilances. That fcheme of religion, which excludes from the gofpei all its peculiarities^ had, for fome time, been mak- ing a rapid progrefs in Germany. One excefs led on to another, till doclrines were advanc- ed among the clergy, which would leave the fuperiority of Chriftianity, to natural religion, very doubtfuh This tendency to infidelity, •appears to have been, in a great degree, owing to the influence of the Anti-Chrifaan confpir- acics^ of which we have been fpeaking ; but, however this may be, it was found to be a very convenient flock on which to ingraft a branch of Illuminifm. An opportunity was now given, to fuch as wiflied to extirpate Chriftianity, to take part with thofe divines who v/ere llriving to explain away its diflin- guiihing doctrineso
On thefe circumflances was founded the idea of the German Union. A multitude of w^riters appcnred who expreffed great zeal for Chrillian'tty ; but the manifefl objecl of this zeal was, to reduce it to a fyilem of natural religion. The Bible was explained, correcl:- ed, allegorized, and otherwiic twifled, till the minds of men had hardly any thing left
M
J 34 F roofs of the Exflence
to reft on, as a dodrine of revealed religion. This was a fignal for others to come forv/ard, deny revelation, and affert that man had no other ground of confidence than the didates of natural reafon. Another fet of vrriters^ proceeding from this as a point already fet- tled, profcribed all religion whatever, and openly taught the doctrines of materialifm and atheifm.* But it afterwards appeared, that thefe movements were the effeds of combina- tion and defign, and that an affociation was formed who were unitedly ftriving to drive things to this extremity.
One Barth, a dodor of divinity in the univerfity at Halle, was the principal agent in this combination. He was an liiuminee, and a perfon of moft infamous morals. In this inftance Mr. Ebeling acknowledges, that, "As to Barth, Robifon is not very erroneous." But, even here, he appears much difpofed to palliate, and tells us that " Barth did not write againft religion 5 but only attempted to modernife Chrijiianity:' He even feems to recommend his writings, from this confideration,that " He knew vice by experience^ and could fhew all its
* Robifon's Proofs, p. (^d to 72. Barrucl's Memoirs, Vol. lY. p. 192 to i94>
ahd ilfftcls of llluminifnu 1 3 5'
deformity/' Yet even Mr. Ebeling does not pretend that he ever ceaied to love vice, or to practice it.
The diflblutenefs of his morals had depriv-- ed him of the means of a decent fubiiflencCj ^hen,on a fudden.he purchafed. near Halle, a larsre manfion, which he called Earth's ruhe. This became the head quarters of the Union. The management of this inilitution was com- mitted to twenty tv/o conducrors, whole agents were difperfed through the different towns. The perfons chiefly fought after, w^ere authors, poft mailers, printers, and bookfellers. While every encouragement was given to thofe works which favored their deiigns, it was found difficult, in fome inilanccSj to pro- cure the publication of vforks defigned to cor- ted thefe evils. Every obftruclion v/as given to the circulation of thofe of this defcription^ which had comxC from the prefs ; and funds were to be eftablilhed to indemnify thofe bookfeilers, who, inilead of felling fuch books, would conceal them in their fliops.
But the principal means, on which they de- pended for corrupting the public mind, were literary focieiies^ or reading clubs ; which tliey labored to fet up in every tov/n. Thefe w^re
1^6 Proofs of the Exijienca.
modifications of WeiiKaupt's minerval fchools, they became very numerous ; and it was the buUnefs of the fecretaries, and initiated book- lellers, to have them furniilied with books of the moii: Anti-Chriilian character.
One of the vileft things^ publiilied on this occafion. was, the '^ Edict for Religion," writ- ten in derifion of fome regulations, publiilied by the king of Pruffia, under that title. This was traced to Barth's ruhe. He was there- upon arreiled, his papers feized, and he im- prifoned. This put a fcop to tlie bufmefs of the Union ; but Dr. Robifon quotes perfons. in high ofice at Berlin^ as agreeing in opinion^ that the alTociation of writers, and other tur- bulent perfons in Germany, has been but very faintly hit by tliis blow, and is almoft as aclive
As Mr. Ebcling fpeaks in the moft contemp- tuous manner^ of Dr. Robifon's perfom in high office at Berlin^ I beg leave to introduce here, the fentiments of fome of that court upon the fubjecl, and in particular, thofe of the king of PrulTia, whom Mr. Ebeling mentions in the hiigheft terms of refped, and ranks with the bcil of princes.
*^ Proofs, p. 22 1 10245. Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 195 to 20x
and EffeBs of lUumlmfnu 137
The Chevalier Von Hanielberg, a major In the king of Pruffia's fervice, lately tranflat- ed Dr. Robifon's work into the German lan- guage, and prefented a copy of the work to his fovereign, to which the king made the fol* lowing return :
^* My dear Major Hamelhcrg^
^' The work which you have tranllated and communicated to me, with your letter of March 3d, expofes the pernicious tendency of all fecret focieties in the cleareft light, and is entitled to a conliderable degree of merit with your countrymen. I, therefore, moil willing- ly exprefs my warmed fatisfaclion, and mofl iincere thanks, for the copy Vv-liich has been tranfmitted to me, and I hereby announce my approbation of the work, as your afFe6lionate fdng, FREDERICK WILLIAM."
Charlottenburg, July 25, 1800.
This was communicated to Tjx, Robifon, in a letter from major Hamelberg. This letter is io well calculated to throw light upon this fubjed, that I cannot refrain fron introducing the more intereiling parts of it.
M 2
ijS Proofs of the Exijthice:
"Sill,,
'^ I Have at laft, after a long fearch, fucceed- ed in my endeavors to obtain your valuable work on the fecret focieties, which was fo thoroughly fappreiled in Germany^ that it was not poilible to procure a copy of. As foon as I obtained it, I communicated it to fome friends, as much diftinguiflied by their charac- ter as by tlieir talents j who, being all convinc- ed of its excellence, perfuaded me to tranfiate- it into German. As the whole merit of the work is yours, fir, I feel it to be my duty to fend you the enclofed anfwer from the king my mnfter. And iliould you be of opinion that it will ferve the good caufe, you are at liberty to make t^j ufeof it v/hichyou may think pfoper, X think it neceffary, iir, to apprize you that I have added fome notes, and fome facts which have come within my knowledge, and which evidently prove (were any further proof re- quired) both the truth of your affertions^ and the reality of the dangers to which the fovereigns, as well as the regular governments, are expofed wherever thefe fo.eieties are tolerated. I beg you will be convinced, fir, of the diflinguifhed confidcration with wdiich I have the honor to be, fir, yours, kc*
VON HAMELBERG.''
MiNDEN, CWeJIj)ha!iaJ July 27, i8qo.
and Efft^is of lllumwifm,- i39.>
The preceding letters were communicated by Dr. Robifon to the editors of the Anti- Jacobin Review, and from, that copied in the New England Palladium, of May 29, 1801.
Thefe letters came attended with an anec- dote, which, though not fupported by equal vouchers, yet fo p€rfe(5iiy accords with the practices of the German Union, and fo fatis- fadtorily accounts for the fcarcity of Robifon's work in Germany, as induces m^e to give it a^ place in the conclufion of this chapter.
" Gofchen, a bookfelier at Leipzig, had engaged a perfon to make a liafly tranilation of ProfeiTor Robifon's book, and nearly a doz- en ftieets had been printed, when an Engliih- man, who fpoke German with all the purity and. fluency of a native, came to his houfe,. and telling him, that he h'c.d himfeif already tranilated the Vv'ork, and that it would appear v^dthin a week, perfuaded Gofchen to fell hini. his edition, for a handfome price, which was immediately paid. By tliis means Gofchen's tranilation was fuppreffed, and the other never appeared. The fame thing, we have been af- fured, occurred at Berlin,"
%j^o Proofs of the Exifience
C H A P. X.
'The FRENCH REVOLUTIOK
If the tendency of thofe principles^ which we have feen originating in France, atid communicated from thence to the Ger- man lodges, is not already apparent, we have a fair experiment before u-s, which fully dif- covers their nature. We have the fruits, to enable us to judge of the qualities of the tree. It has been obferved, that the French lodges, already the nurferies of every infidel and licen- tious fentiment, had communicated to their German brethren thofe doctrines, which the wicked ingenuity of Weifhaupt had wrought up into that fyftematical procefs of corruption^ comprifed in Uluminifm.
Wliile thefe things were tranfafting in Ger- many, the fame principles were fpreading^ gaining ftrength, and tending to an explofion in France. The French lodges had become fchools, not for promoting revolutionary opin- ions merely, but for training men to that
imd Effecls of UluminrfiiU ^'4 -
hardinefs in iniquity, that faiTiiliarity witli blood and llaughter, that erafement of every natural affeftion, and fcntlment of tendernefs^ which prepare men to plunge the poignard in- to a brother's breaft. How well thefe mafonic fchools were adapted to prepare men for fucli fcenes as have been exhibited in France, may be perceived from the following ceremony ufed in the Grand Orient*
" A candidate for reception into one of the higheil orders, after having heard m.any threatenings denounced againft all who fnould betray the fecrets of the order, was conducted to a place where he faw the dead bodies of feveral who were faid to have fuffered for their treachery. He then faw his own brother tied hand and foot, begging his mercy and intercelTion. He was informed that this per- fon was about to fuffer the puniihment due for- this offence, and that it was referved for him (the candidate) to be the inftrument of this juft vengeance, and that this gave him an op- portunity of manifefting that he was com- pletely devoted to the order. It being ob- ferved that his countenance gave figns of in- ward horror (the perfon in bonds knploring his mercy all the while) he w^as told, that in: order to fpare his feelings, a bandage lliouldi
^42' Proofs of the ExUience
be put over his eyes. A dagger was then put into his right hand, and being hoodwinked, his left hand was hud on the palpitating heart of the criminal, and he was then ordered to ftrike. He inflantly obeyed ; and w^hen the bandage was taken from his eyes, he fliw that it was a lamb h^ had ftabbed."*
Many of the French lodges needed not ta be inftructed in Weiihaupt's theories, to qual- ify them for the highelt degrees of Iliuminifm. The inllr unions of Voltaire had iWiciently difpoireiTed them of what, in the language of modern philofophy, is called />r^/^<i/V^ andy^- prfiiiion^ i. e. every fentiment of religious or' moral obligation \ but a fyflem, and a regular fubordination and correfpondence, were want-^ ing to give thefe principles their full force.
In this ftate of things, Mirabeau returned from Germany, highly illumdnated; and, at his requeft, two of the German Areopagites, viz. Bode, and Baron de Bufche, met him in France, in 1788, to form the French lodges in- to a duly organized body. Their bufmefs was eafdy tranflicled. Before the end of March, 1789, the whole of the Grand Orient, confifl-
"•* Roblfon's Proofs, p. 290^
and Effects of llluminlfnu 1 43
itig of 266 lodges, had the fecrcts oi lilumina- tion communicated to them.* By the means of fecret committees every part of this ex- tenlivc body was in a ftate of clofe conneci:ion and correfpondence ; and it was in the power of the prime movers of this machine to direct the force of the whole to any point.f
It is not, however, to be iinderflood that every member of this body entered into the views of the profound Illuminees. The Duke of Orleans himfelf, the Grand Mailer of thefe lodges, deceived by the confpirators with the vain hope of afcending the throne of "FrancCj was but the tool of their deligns.
Under the direclion of the German deputies, a club was formed at Verfailles, compofed of the moft profouixi adepts, called the Breton Club. This fociety, by means of its comimiit- tees in all the illuminated lodges, obtained a moft powerful influence in the affairs of the nation. The members of this club, comipofed the leaders of a club, which afterwards met at the Convent of Jacobins in Paris, and from
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 287, 303 — 307. Barruel's Me^ jTioirs, Vol. IV. p. 210 — 213.
:j- Ibid. p. 307 ; and Vol. II. p. 239,
1 44 Proofs of the Exljlence
that clrcumftance, was denominated the Jaco^ hhi Club. The proceedings of the National Convention were entirely iubjeci: to the influ- ence of this ufurping confederacy ; and by their fecret agents, and committees they in- Hamed the minds of the populace, and directed their blind rage at pleafure. It was the atro- cious meafures of thefe banditti which gave to the French revolution its peculiarly horrid features, and has attached perpetual infamy to the term Jacohin."^
As a great variety of circumftances, too many to be introduced into this work, and which cannot be abridged without v/eakening their force, are adduced by Barruel, in proof of the influence of this illuminated fociety in
* It is really a caiife of pain to the author, that he finds himielf neceflitated to introduce a term in a very odious ienfe, which is ufed to diftingniih the particular political opinions of fome of his coiintrymen, M^hom, Vnatever names they may bear, he regards as friends to religion, to order, and good government ; and he now p-ives notice that the term Jacdnih as here iifed, is to be conudered as applied, not to thofe who are innocently mif- led, but to thofe only who neither yZ^jr Gody nor regard man.
Rcbifon's Proofs, p. 311, 3 7 '5. Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. Chap. II and 12.
and Effects of llliimmifnu 145
direcllng the revolution \ I beg leave to ad- duce fome evidence of this fact from another quarter.
That judicious and accurate obferver, John Moore, m. d. was, at the period of which we are fpeaking, occarionally in Paris, and fre- quently attended at the national adembly, and at the Jacobin club, and though then igno- rant of the fyftematical combination which guided the revolution, yet remarked, that " moil queflions of great importance are diC. cuffed in the Jacobin fociety of Paris, before they are introduced into the national affembly; and the fuccefs they are likely to have in the fecond, may be generally knov\m by that which thev have in the firft. Societies of the fame name and nature are eftablifhed all over France, v/hich hold a regular correfpondence v/ith the parent fociety at Paris, and by mu- tually commxunicating information and ad- vice, acl with wonderful efficacy on imporc- ant occafions."
He alfo quotes, with approbation, a letter from M. la Fayette, of June 16, 1792, who then perceived that he had been kept ignorant of the real views of fome whom he had con- lidered as the friends of a juft and equal lib-
N
J 46 Ft oofs of the Exijlence
erty. His expreflions are, " The Jacobin fac- tion has produced all the diforders ; it is that fociety which 1 loudly accufe of it. Organ- ized like a feparate empire, and blindly gov- erned by fome ambitious men, this fociety forms a diflincl corporation in the middle of the French nation, whofe power it ufurps, and whofe reprefentatives it fubdues." Thi3 letter proved the ruin of the Marquis.*
The American Revolution doubtlefs haftened the final cataftrophe of affairs in France. The Fi jnch officers and foldiers, by the new idea^ which they had acquired in America, of lib- erty and the rights of man, were prepared to efpoufe this caufe in their own country. It is obvious, however, that the aim of the leaders in France was not to deftroy the power which oppreifed the nation, but to transfer that power into their own hands, Fayette and his companions became tools of -their ambitious defigns ; and, when they had aded the parts afiigned them, were facrificed. Nothing was further from the views of the French nation, at the beginning of the revolu- tion, than what has taken place. The objed held up to them was perpetually varying,
* Moore's Jour. Vol. I. p. 67—70. Eofton edi. 1794.
an d Effeds of lilmninifm. 1-4/
They were firft illuminated, literally blind- folded and wheedled, till by bribes, by threat- enings, and by having their paflions inflamed by falfe reprefentations, they were prepared to follow their leaders.
How different were the circumflances at- tending the American revolution ? Here the object ia view was clear and definite. The public will was one, and that will v/as faith»^ fully executed. Accordingly, thofe who firfb flood forth the defenders of their ccun» try's rigiits, acquired an influence, a reputa- tion, and an interefl in the public confidence,- which furmounted all oppofuion, and which' remained, unimpaired, during the whole rev-^ elution.
The caufe of this diffimilarity, in the twO' revolutions, is evident. In America, the ftruggle was the refult of a genuine fpirit o5 freedom, feeking the prote6lion of its rights, in equal laws j in France, it was the refult of a faction, facrificing to its deteflable views the mofl facred rights of man, and crufliing all who oppofed its ambitious defigns. The friends of moderation, of juflice, and a ra- tional liberty, when they ceafed to fecond the views of the confpirators were profcribed^
2 4^ Pi' oofs of the Exijience
and the illuminated chiefs, by means of the inafonic lodges, governed the nation.
Dr. Robifon, on the authority of Mr. Le- franc, Prefident of thefeminary of the Eudifts ;;t Caen, in Normandy, and of Mr. Latocnaye, -xn emigrant gentleman, reprefents France as a vaft mafonic combination, directed by fecret influence. In proof of this it is obferved, ^' that all the irreligious and feditious docN trines of the day, and the enthufiaftic princi- ples by which the public mind was, as it were, let on fire, were the fubjecls of perpetual har- angues in the Mafon lodges ; that the diftri- bution of France into departments, diftricTis, circles, cantons, &c. is perfectly fmiilar, and with the fame denominations, to a diftribution which he had remarked in the correfpondence of the Grand Orient ; that the Preftdent's hat, in the national affembly, is copied from that of a Grand Mailer ; that the fcarf oF a municipal ofticer is the fame with that of a brother apprentice ; that when the aiTembly celebrated the revolution in the cathedral, they accepted of the higheft honors of Ma- fonry, by pailing under an arch of feel, formed by the drawn fwords of two ranks of breth- ren5andthat the national aiTembly proteded the
and EffeSis of lllumlmfnu 14^
n-eetings of Free Mafons, while it perempto- rily prohibited every other private meeting.''*
It was a difcovery of the horrid defigns of thefe condudors of the French revolution, and not, as fome pretend, aderelidion of the principles of liberty, which has alienated the virtuous part of our countrymen from their attachment to the caufe of France. When it was announced in America, that millions of Frenchmen were ftriving for freedom, who did not beftow a benedidion on their caufe, and fervently pray for its fuccefs ? The tri- umphs of France were celebrated here with real joy, and her misfortunes were lamented as our own. Long did we ftrive to palliate her crimes,' and long did we mvent excufes for her enormities. But when at length the. mafk fell off, and we faw in the boafted friend of his country the difgufting atheift, the fac- tious leader, the man who could fmile at car- nage, and feaft on havock and war, our feelings revolted ; we could no longer receive as brethren, men who proved themfelves the enemies of religion, of order, of humanity.
N 2 * Robifon's Proofs, p, 294—298. " ~
1 50 ?roc>[s of ihe Exijience
The co-operation of the lUuminees of other nations, and their joint exertions to extend the revolution, prove that It was the work of that order ; and that France was no lefs indebted to her fecret agents than to her martlai prow- efs, for the unexampled fuccefs of her arms.
At the commencenient of the revolution, a manifeftowasfentfromthe grandnational lodge of Free Mafons, (fo it is entitled) at Paris,^ ilgned by the Duke of Orleans, as Grand Maf- ■ter, addreffed to the lodges in aJl the refpecl-^ able cities ox Europe, exhorting tliem to. iinite for the fupport of the French revolu^ tion, and to kindle a fplrit of revolution; through all lands j fome of thefe were ad- drefCed to thofe, of whofe aiTiftance they were affured, and to fuch were given earneil: ex- hortations to e/labi:p, in every quarter,, fecret fchooh of politicat education; and fchools for the educa-. \i.on of children^ under thedireaion of well dfciptined mafiers ; andcffersof pecuniary afftJUnce for tlm fur ^ pofe, and for the encouragement ofzvriters in favor of the revolution, and for patriotic bookfellers, whofuffer by their endeavors to fippref publications which have- an oppqfite tendency. All tliisisgenuinellluminifm^ and may help us to account for the myfterious fcarcity of Dr. Ilobifon's work in Germany.^
* Scera-e 13S.
15"
ami Effcas of llluminlfm.
Among many other foreign lodges, the m-and national lodge at Paris, had the partic Slar direftion of a club, in the form of a ma- fonic lodge, called Propaganda, which met weekly, and had its agents and emiffanes lu all parts of Europe.
Thefe facls are collected from a Hamburg Journal, for 1790, and from a publication of Profeflbr Hoffman, whom the lllumineeshad long ftriven to gain to their interefts, and who was employed by the more refpeftable Mafons, to make public tuefe machinations of the occult lodges. The refult of his inquiries was, " that the Propaganda works in every corner to this hour, and its emiffaries run about in all the four quarters of the globe,
and are to be found in numbers in every city
that is a feat of government."*
Thefe invifible agents were by no ireans idle or unfuccefsful. There is reafon to be- lieve that France was irmch indebted to them for their progrefs in Gerirany, Holland, Italy, and other parts. The proofs brought in fupport of thefe facls are too much involv- ed with circumilances to f:nd a place here,
* Robifon's Proofs, p. 315-3^9. BarrueVs Memo^r^S Vol. IV. p. 2S,^ 106,
1 5 2 Proofs of the Exi/lence
One curious inftance, however, related in a book called Paragraphen j in another per- formance, with the title of Cri de la Raifon j and in a third, called Les Mafques arrachees, muft not be omitted. The inftance referred to, is the following.
Cuftine was accufed before the revolution»- ary tribunal of treachery, by Zimmerman, for refufmg the offer of Manheim, when he himfelf engaged to deliver it into his handsc Cuftine's anfwer is remarkable. " Hardly,*' faid he, " had I fet my foot in Germany, when this man, and all the fools of his coun^ try, befieged me, and would have delivered up to me their towns and villages. What occafioa had I to do any thing to Manheim, when the prince was neutral ?"*
Thefe fecret agents of Illuminifm, appear- to have had another objecT: attached to their miffion, viz. the removal of thofe who flood much in the way of the revolution. When it was underftood that Guflavus III, king of Sweden, was to command the confederate ar- mies, Ankerflroem, by the expeditious procefs
* Robifcn's Proofs, p. 3 1 1—3 1 3. Bai ruel's Memoirs, VoL IV. Chap, 13.
and Efctls of lllum'mifiiu 153-
of affaffination, relieved the Jacobins from their fears, and. in recompcnce they honor him with a flatue.*
When the expecled union of the emperor of Germany and the Idng of Pruflia, alarmed the Jacobins, the following confortable re- flections were annexed to the account in a Strafburgh Journal, No. si- " ^-^^ ^M^ ^°^^^'' tries ^ where the fate of fever al millions of men ^ hangs on a bit of pcifle^ or on the rupture of a little vein^ one can calculate on nothing, A fingle iadigefiion^ or a drop of blood forced from its proper vcffcls^ will be fufficiejit to diffolve this brilliant union,^^ This comment on the expected union was dated from Vienna, the 26th of February, 1792. Leo- pold died (poifoned) on the ill of March following.!
On the fucceeding Auguft, it was m.olion- ed in the national aflembly, '^ To levy a body of tw^elve hundred patriotic volunteers, by a peniion of two thoufand livers yearly, with a reverfion to their children to the third g^ener- ation ; whofe bulinefs it iliould be to afraflln-
* B.irruel's Memoirs, Vol. I. p. 123. f Ibid. Vol. IV' p. 308. Travels of two Frenchmen ir. ths North, Vol. V. Chap^ 12.
154 Proofs of the Exijlence
ate the generals and princes who commanded' the armies which attacked France. An ap*- preheniion of reprifals prevented the adoption of the propofal." Mr. Moore in his account of this bulinefs, adds this circumftance, " That^ though it did not pafs in the affembly, iu was by them fent to the commiflion extra-^ ordinaire."*
The fate of the emperor taught his young fucceffor more caution. His firft care was to difmifs all the Italian cooks, that he might not become a viflim to what was called the Naples broib.i The Illuminee, who believes all means lawful for the attainment of a good end, can feel no remorfe for fuch deeds of darknefs y but, for the honor of modern times, it is de-- firable that our hiftory fhould not be ftained With many fimilar facls.
* Moore's Journal, Boflon edit. 1794. Vol. I. p. 128 — 131.
f Barruel's Memoirs, Vol IV, p. 308. Robifoa's^ Proofs; p. 3 1 1 .
and Effeds of lllwninifiiu 155
f
CHAP. XL
_A Summary View of lllumhilfm,
1 HESE are the leading features of that 'fyftem of deception in which we fee the ene- mies of religion quitting the open field of ar- gument, in which they have fo often been defeated, and flying to the arts of fophiftry, corruption, and concealment. But it is not from a curfory glance that we can acquire a juft idea of the depths of that wicked fubtlety comprifed in Illuminifm. Let us take a view of this deftru6tive engine in a more compad operation.
Imagine an illuminated Infmuator attack- ing a youth of talents and principle, in whom the moral fenfe of right and wrong is yet vigorous ; for it is for the feduclion of fuch, more particularly, that the artful procefs of Illumination is defigned. From this Infmua- tor he hears, as by accident, however, that |:hefe are fchools of wifdom, feats of fcience, in
\
156 Proofs of the E'/ifleficc
whicli the ivfe and good are uniting for the important end of fecretly ruling mankind, and thus delivering them from thofc calamities, for which all other means are found to be in- efFedual. If, by fuch fuggeflions, he is led to exprefs a dehre to.become a member of this fociety, the Inilnuator promifes his utmoft af- fiftance ; but he is told, that this is the reward only of long approved merit.
To excite his curiofity, it is intimated, that there exift dodrines iblely tranfmitted by fecret traditions, becaufe they are above the comprehenhon of common minds ; and let- ters, filled with myflerious characters, are, as it were incautiouily, expofed to his view. To increafe his ardor to become a member, the Infmuator expatiates frequently on the fu- preme pleaiure of fecretly reigning ; and re- marks, that it is eafy for one man of parts to lead thoufands, if he but knew his own ad- vantages. That he may be led to confider the interefts of the order as his own, he is told of its readinefs and power to protect him, and fecure his fuccefs in all the purfuits of lifc« queftions of the moft enfnaring nature are propofed to difcovcr his fentiments, and books, fecretly conveying the poifon of infidelity, are made ufe of to corrupt them. If he difcovers
mid Effefls of lllummifm.
^57
a weak part, it is noted for a point of attack. Jf he expreifes a doubt refpcding any of the iinportant principles of religion and morality, he is fure of being applauded for his ftrcngth of mind in rifing above the prejudices of edu- cation, which he is often told, are the fourccs of all our errors. He is placed in fituations where iie hears the moft artful fophiflry ufed to prove, that patriotifm and private afFeclions are narrow minded prejudices ; that the bonds of marriage and parental authority are en- croachments on the natural rights of man ; that fuicide is lawful ; that fenfual pleafures correfpond with the law of nature, and that it is proper to employ, for a good purpofe, thofe meaiis which v/icked men ufe for evil purpofes.
While every art is thus employed to under- mine the principles of morality and religion, his fears are lulled by conftant declamations on the excellence of virtue, and the highly honorable, and moft ufeful and benevolent in* tentions of the fuperiors of the order. It is one of the prime arts of Illuminifm to extol the namxe of virtue, in general, and at the fame time, to fap its foundation in every particular^ The objecl is continually varying, and the mind, led by new invented fyftems and o
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156
Proofs of the E:<tflencc
\diicli the ^vfc and good are uniting for the important end of fecretly ruling mankind, and thus delivering them from thofe caJamities, for which all other means are found to be in- effeclual. If, by fuch fuggeflions, he is led to exprefs a delire to. become a member of this fociety, the Inlmuator promifes his utmoft af- fiftance ; but he is told, that this is the reward only of long approved merit.
To excite his curiofity, it is intimated, thai there exift doctrines folely tranfmitted b) fecret traditions, becaufe they are above th( compreheniion of common minds ; and let- ters, filled with myflerious characters, are, as it were incautioufiy, expofed to his view. T( increafe his ardor to become a member, th Inlinuator expatiates frequently on the fu preme pleaiure of fecretly reigning ; and re marks, that it is eafy for one m.an of parts t( lead thoufands, if he but knew his own ad vantages. That he may be led to coniider th interefts of the order as his own, he is told o its readinefs and power to protect him, an< fecure his fuccefs in all the purfuits of life Queftions of the moit enfnaring nature ar propofed to difcover his lentiments, and bookj fecretly conveying the poifon of infidelity, ar made ufe of to corrupt them. If he difcover
tliole fiirpole
wine t
lis le:
mmmmamm
mid Effefis of Illummifm^ i ^j
a weak part, it is note^ for a point of attack. If he exprelfes a doubt refpcd:ing any of the important principles of religion and morality, he is fure of being applauded for his flrength of mind in rifmg above the prejudices of edu- cation, which he is often told, are the fources of all our errors. He is placed in fituations where he hears the moft artful fophii^ry ufed to prove, that patriotifm and private afieclions are narrow minded prejudices ; that the bonds of marriage and parental authority are en=. croachments on the natural rights of man ; that fuicide is lawful ; that fenfual pleafures correfpond with the law of nature, and that it is proper to employ, for a good purpofe^ thofe means which v/icked men ufe for evil purpofes.
While every art is thus employed to under- mine the principles of morality and religion, his fears are lulled by conftant declamations on the excellence of virtue, and the highly honorable, and moft ufeful and benevolent in- tentions of the fuperiors of the order. It is one of the prime arts of Illuminifm to extol the nam^e of virtue, in general, and at the fame time, to fap its foundation in every particular^ The objecl is continually varying, and the mind, led by new invented fyftems and o
,15.3 Proofs of the Exijlence
explanations, in athoufand different directions^ is, at length, totally bewildered, and all clear dillincTion between truth and error is loft. How can the unwary youth efcape thefe inares fo artfully fpread, and fufficient, indeed, ^'^ if it werepojfiblej to deceive the very.eled .^"
And what could have been the defign of this fubtle procefs of deception, of all thefe £udied phrafes, and nicely adjufted degrees ? Were they defigned merely to difcover the in- genuity of the contriver?. Or, did he who contrived them, in fact, contemplate fome <yreat revolution, which rendered the intro- duction of all this machinery neceffary ? The latter is not -denied Jiy thofe who moft zeal- oully advocate the innocence of Illuminifm. They were intended, they acknowledge, to demolifh the ftrong holds of fuperftition and defpotifm. But when the mind is difpoffeffed of all that thefe terms imply, in the language of lUuminifm, what remains ? What religious principle, moral fentiment, or fecial affec1:ion, can exift in that heart which has been the fub- ]ect of this truly diabolical renovation ?
Were this queftion propofed to an Illu- rninee, his anRver doubtlefs would be, What^ can exift ? The nobleft of all affec1:ions, the"'
end EffeBs of Ilhiminifiiu i J|
fum of all virtue, Cofmopolltifnu Far "from difcarding virtue, we only are her true wor- Ihippers, who erecl her temple, not on the nar- row foundation of private affection, but on the broad bafis of univerfal love.
As this term comprifes every thing of dut)^ and moral obligation to which the llluminee makes any pretenfions, it becomes necelTary, in order to our forming a judgment of that fyilem, that this boafted virtue fliould pafs a more particular examinationo
A Cofmopolite, then, is a citizen of the world, or one who has baniilied from his bread all partial private affedions. One vvho loves his country, his family, his friends, and benefactors, only as they are parts of the whole, and can facrifice them without remorfe, whenever he conceives it will be promotive of the general good. The adoption of this nom- inal, but ficlitious virtue, for fach it is v/heil oppofed to private duties, is an inflance of art not exceeded by any of the fubdeiies of IIlu- minifm. Il:s plaufibility renders it a conven- ient maik for men, deftitute of real gooc < wiih to be thought pofleiTed of the moft exait» ed virtue. It is a garment fuited to all the . foi'ms which thefe modern Proteufes can wiih
1 6o Proofs of the Exijlcnce
to affiime. It is a term replete -vyith fallarcy and deception, and is ma.de to mean nothing, or any thing, as the illuminated polieiror
pleafes.
A principle or univerfal benevolence, or good v/iil to being in general, doubtlefs enters into the compoiition ; and, indeed, forms the foundation of all right focial aiieclions. He v/ho loves his friend merely from this coniid- eration, that he ishis friend, has no love to him as a fellow creature, and therefore, is deftitute of rieht focial affeclions.* But how is this principle of univerfal benevolence to be ex- preffed ? In the fame manner as the foidier
* A late European writer on thlsfubjefl obferves, that '■' Extended benevolence is the lad and mod perfetft fruit of the private affedlions :" but if the tree be deftroyed the fruit certainly mail fail. And thus, according to this theory, if all private relations, and therewith private affec- tions are deftroyed, extended, or univerfal benevolence cannot exift, unlefs there can be fruit without a tree, or an effect without a caufe. See Hall's Sermon on Infidelity^ page 39.
My difapprobation of this fentiment, in which I have taten the liberty to dilfent from this juftly celebrated writer, gives me an opportunity, which I gladly embrace, to recommend this mod excellent performance, as merit- ing at all times, and at the preftnt in particular, the alter*- tlc'ii of mankind.
and Effeds of llluminifnu 1 6 1
expreffes his attachment to the caufe in which he is engaged, and to the army of which he b> a member ; by firmly maintaining his poft, and faithfully executing the orders of his com- mander. To promote the general interefts of mankind is to difcharge the duties of our re- fpcdive ftations ; extending occaiional aid, as opportunity offers, to our fellow creatures in diftrefs. On the contrary, he w4io neglecls the duties of his private fphere, ferves the pub- lic as the foldier does his caufe, who forfake^ his poll, and wanders through the ranks cre- ating diforder and confuiion.
Such is the modern Cofmopolite. Having: efFedually eradicated all thofe narrow minded prejudices which lead other men to be grate-^ ful to their friends, to provide for their fami- lies, and to ferve their country, his talk of focial duty is at an end, unlefs he fancies that he is bound to labor for the general good, by forming theories, projecting revolutions, or removing the prejudices of mankind. The things laft mentioned, become his duty, oa his fyftem, whenever he is pleafed to fancy that they will be promotive of the general good ; which juftifies the alTertion, that Cof- mopolitifm iignifies nothing, or any thing, a^ the poiicflbr pleafes,
1 6' 2 Proofs of the Exijhncs
The Cofmopolite, fcorning the narrow fphere of private duties which Providence has appohited him, aicends the throne of the Su- preme Ruler, and upon the great fcale of urd- vcrial being, j--g-s for himfelf, what part be- longs to him on the theatre of life.
On this ground we find Weifiiaupt juftify- ing his attempt to procure an abortion. He confidently pleads, that what he did in that affair, was no more than what he ous^ht to have done to fecure his character, and feems to claim no fmall degree of praife for doing io much to preferve the order, of which he was the founder, and Vv'hicli would have fuf- fered extremely by his kxfs of reputation. The lame principle, in his view, would juftify his adepts, in plundering mafonic funds, ccclefi- afticai revenues, and books and v/ritings from libraries. It was iavv'ful, for the fame rcafon, to dcllroy the reputation of fuch as v/ere op- pofed to his order, and to make ufe of pious frauds to overcome men's prejudices againft the doctrines of llluminifm. Such practices, which mankind liavc been accuilomed to rep- robate, were deeds of virtue in Weifiiaupt's view, when done to promote the intercfts of an inftitution calculated for the advancement i^f human happincfij.
and Effeds of lllumlnlfnu 1 63
Friincc reafoned In the fame manner, liav- ing eilabliihed this principle, that her revoha- tion included whatever could exalt, refine, or bleis mankind, in the fulnefs of her Cofmo- politifm, flic fwore eternal enmity to kings ; fent forth her emilTaries to promote in other nations, infurreclions againft government ; proffered protedion and affiftancc to all pro- mota's of revolutions, and even forced confli- tutions, framed in Paris, on thofe who neither ^efu'ed, or would have received them but under the terrors of the bayonet. Thefe be- nevolent plans have, indeed, been producfivc of the moil cruel exaclions, robberies, ailaf- fmations, violations of treaties, and indefcrib- able fcenes of mifcry ; but it is a narrow minded prejudice, the French Philofopher Vvill tell you, to compare thefe partial evils with the bleilings of a revolution. This, gentle reader, is Cofmopolitifnu
It is happy that thefe Cofmopolltes cannot commiunicate their principles to the brutal race, left they, leaving their proper charge to perifh, Ihould beftow their care where it is not needed. No ; the great Author of nature, by indelible inilind, has taught them the izime leiTon of wifdom which he has addreifed to our underltaadings, ^^ hot every one provide for
1 54 Froofs of the Exifience
Lis oivn houfeJ^ It is happier ftill that they have not been able to tranfmit their univerfal benevolence to other worlds^ and to perfuade the great luminary of our fyftem to wander from his orbit, leaving us to froft and dark- nefs, to revolutionize other fyftems. No ; every creature, which has not rebelled againft the firft great law of order, promotes the gen- eral good, by abiding in its prefcribed fphere of aclion. Wherever this law is tranfgreffed ruin and miiery will be the confequence.
This is the evidence on which we are to form our judgment of the nature and tenden- cy of lUuminifm ; and what do we fee, but a deflruclive combination againft the moft pre- cious interefts of mankind ? It appears, that the real nature and tendency of Illuminifm is to be found, by precifely reverfmg its oftenfi- ble aim, and the pretended objed of its advo- cates.
By univerfal citizenfhlp and difmtcrefted love, the Illuminee intends the deftrudion of all whom he cannot render the dupes of his defigns. Morality, with him, means the un- bounded indulgence of every corrupt bias of human n'ature, only prcferving fuch an exte-
and Effccls of lHumuuJm. " 1 6s
rior as fliall better enable him to impofc on mankind. The glorious emancipation from llavery, to which he invites men, confifls in the blind fubjedion of ail their actions to the unknown fuperiors of the order. His hum-an- ity is the extindion of every tie of nature, of every focial afFec1:ion j even marriage is, in the view of the Illuminee, an unfufferable monop- oly, and every check to a brutal indulgence of the fexual affections, a fpecies of tyranny. His philofophy confifls of theories contra- dided by univerfal experience. His religion is atheifm dreffed to the tafte of the fcrupulou& confcience. His ufeful and im.portant difccv- eries, are new means of affailination, abortion 5 and peculation. His Creator is chance j and his future glorious hope, everlafting fleep»
The oridnal fource of Illuminifm, and the principle which, in a greater or lefs degree, influences all who are actuated by its genuine fpirit, doubtlefs, is an innate enmity to Chrift- ianity, and a dehre to be free from the checks which its holy doctrines oppofe to the corrup- tions of the heart.
Motives different from this have, however, united their operation in extending this com-
J 66 Proofs of the Exjftencs
bination, efpecially in its hoftility to focial or- der, and an energetic government. Men who wiih to poffefs property for which they have not labored, and men of property who want power, thefe, and men w^ho never enjoy them- felves but in a ftorm, and whofe revolutionary minds could not reft even in the calm of Para- dife ) all of this defcription, find their feveral ends promoted by difturbing the peace of fo- clety, removing the ancient land-mai'ks, over- turning ufeful eftabUfhments, and breaking down th^ barriers which have fecured the rights and property of mankind.
For effeding thefe defigns, Illuminifm fur- niflies a moft artful and fyftematic procefs. It fupplies the want of power, by fubtle infmua- tions. It teaches to bind men with invifible bands ; to govern them by their prejudices and pailions, and to delude them by a falfe light, perpetually varying the object of pur- fuit, until the mind is loft in endlefs wander- ings, and deprived of every permanent prin- ciple of action.
Another obfervable trait in the chara(5ler of thefe deceivers is, their pretended attachment to the caufe they fecrctly endeavor to under-
and EffeSls of Hlmnimffiu 1 6y
mine. Judging from their declarations, they appear the firm friends of government and re- ligion, at the fame time that they are plying every fecret art to effed their deflrudion. Thefe " pious frauds muft indeed be explain- ed away," but this is eafily done among thofe to whom they have communicated the fpirit of the order.
i68 T roofs of the Exifleme
CHAP. XII.
OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED,
1 AM fenfible that great efforts have been made, both in Europe and America, to convince mankind of the harmlefs nature of liiuminifm, and that its operation, whatever its tendency was, has long fince ceafed. But the wonderful zeal and bitternefs, which have been exhibited on this fubjecl, inftead of abating, juftly increafe fufpicion. If my neigh- bor fancies himfelf befet with ghofts and hob- goblins, I may well pity him, and endeavor to remove the painful illuflon ; but is there any caufe for bitter refentment ? Shall I be at the pains of inventing, and circulating falfehoods to convince mankind that my neighbor's fears are imaginary ? That falfehoods of the grolTeft nature have been moft induftrioufly propagat- ed, and vengeance of the moft horrid kind denounced againft thofe who liave exprefied their apprehendons of the deftrudive effects of Illuminifm, are facls. But why is it thus.
avd Effccls of llluminijni, '169
\i niuminifm is that filly, harmlefs tale which l>y fome it is reprefcnted to be ? Or why was not Robifon's work to be found in Germany? This is not the w^ay to remove jealoufies* Where there is fuch a fluttering and outcry, we naturally conclude that fome are deeply wounded.
The peculiar invifibility of this order muft greatly invalidate the moil pohtive^ declara- tions in its favor, however honeftly intend- ed. Admiitting that Mr. Ebeling, in particu- lar, is, as he ailerts, neither an Illuminee nor a -Mafon, and that his declarations on this fub- ject are the refalt of conviction, muft this be admitted as conclufive evidence ? A fimilar declaration has been made by many, in the uprightnefs of their hearts, w^ho have been ad- mitted even to the threfliold of the myileries ; for they have all along had the moft pofitive alTurances, that the object of the order was the advancemicnt of civil and religious liberty, in their moft perfect degrees.
Did thofe adepts, v/ho retained their refpeffc for the fcriptures, believe that they were fup- porting a fyftem of Spinozifm ? or did initi- ated princes believe that they were protecting p
fjo Proofs of the Ex'ijicnce
an order which was aiming to reduce them to the rank of plebeians ? Yet perfons of each of the above defcriptions gave their warm fup- port to this Anti-Chriflian, diforganizing con- federacy. Is then the judgment of profeffor Ebeling to be deemed infallible ?
From the peculiar nature of the fubje^:, it is obvious, that witnelTes of tlie higheil credi- bility in other matters, cannot be depended on in this ; here is fo much collufion, art, and ■Rudied concealment, that nothing but ftub- born facls, their own wn'itings, and fecret, confidential communications, can be reafona- bly admitted to be of weight in determining ihe views of this order.
If Mr. Ebeling's proximity to the fcene of aclion, afforded him fome fpecial advantages for eilimating circumftantial evidence, is he not likewife expofed, from this fituation, to fome peculiar difadvantages ? Doubtlefs he had frequent, and moft pofitive aflurances from many worthy and good men, men as deferving the chara^ler/at leaft, as Weifliaupt, of whom he fpeaks fo refpccl:fully,that lUumin- ifm was perfectly harmlefs, and even highly beneficial to mankind. Is it not very poffible that fuch declarations, made with that fubtl^
iVid Effeth of Jlhmiimfnu i / 1
fophlftry. and plaufibility in which lUiinunifm' fo much abounds, fhould bias the judgment of the charitable profeflbr ? Then, in propor- tion to his nearnefs to the fuggefted, but un- difcovered, danger, he would naturally be- come confident that it did not exift. It cer- tainly adds importance to thefe obiervations, that others, who had at leail equal advantages with Mr. Ebeling to judge of the real views of thefe confpirators, yet differed much from: him in opiniono
But can thefe things be real ? Can humail^ nature be fo debafed, fo loil to every princi- ple, not of religion only, but of fecial virtue I Or could any perfon, capable of inventing fuch a fyflem, imagine that it was practicable, and that any confidcr-able number of mankind •would fubmit to fuch abominpJole impoiitions ? Thefe reflections, I confefs, are, to this mo- ment, preffing on my mind, and raife a mo- mentary doubt, v/hich nothing but the moil clear and indubitable evidence can rem.ove. But this doubt, we find upon reiie6:ion, arifes more from the novelty of the fubjecl, than from any thing in it that is really incredible. Is not all wickednefs,madnels and folly? Is not the vv^ant of opportunity and abilities, the real caufe why mankind do not exhibit more frequent inilances. of mifchievous madnefs ? Docs the
172: Proofs of ihe Exlftcnce
Mftory of pad ages leave us room to wonder lit any a6l .of extravagance, which is credibly attefted, becaufe it is in the highefl degree un- reafonable, and deftruftive, both to the perpe- trator and liis fellow creatures ? If revelation lias not fufficiently taught us ivhat is in ?nan^ the French revolution may furely convince us, that there is no fpecies or degree of wicked- nefs, within the compafs of human abihty, which is beyond the corruption of the human heart. Every impious, immoral, cruel, and diforganizing fentiment, ever taught in the fchool of Spartacus, has been exemplified in late tranfadions which have taken place in Europe.
It is not, indeed, to be fuppofcd that all the proceedings of the fociety vv'cre minutely con^ formable to the adopted fyftem : we know they vv^ere not. The machine was too un- wieldy to be applied in all cafes. The heads of the order referved a right of deviating according to their judgment of circumftances. Some needed not Weifhaupt's procefs of feduclion,to prepare them for the higheft myf- teries of liluminifm. A complete fyftem may be ufeful as a general directory, even when it is not brought into univerfal operation. In thisinftance the vanity of the author, doubtlefs excited him to render his work perfect, and
and Effl'SIs of Ilhwimijm, i J'^
connected in all its parts. The objeclion which fome make to the exiftence of lUumin- ifm, that it is too complicated and cumber- fome ever to attain the objecl afcribcd to tiie projedor, cannot be important.
While the Illuminees complain of great feverity in the proceedings of the government againft their order, others, judging of the degree of the crime by the punilhment, con- clude, from the lightnefs of the latter, that the former could not be equal to what has been reprefented. Deprivation of office, imprifon- rnent, and fome inftances of banifliment, appear indeed to have been punilhments inade- quate to fuch attrocious confpiracies, Wei- ihaupt himfclf expeded nothing ihort of the gallows in cafe of his detedion. That his expectations were not realized, was, doubtlefs, owing in part, t-o the fecret influence of Illu- minifm over the meafures of government; and flili more, to the many refpeclable characters found to be partially involved, which render- ed it expedient that the fubjed fhould be treated with all poUible lenity.
In addition to this, it is to be obferved, that the weaknefs and inferiority of many of the German principalities, rcdvice them to the 3? a
1 74 F roofs of the Exifience
iieceflity of accommodating the meafures of government to particular circumflances. On the authority of private letters from Germany, Barruel relates, That the Duke of Brunfwick, in particular, juftified his not proceeding to extremities with the Illuminees in his ilates, by faying, " Suppofmg I fhould fend them a way 5 they would only go elfe where and calum- niate me ;" adding, " a league ought to be en- tered into by the German princes, to fuffer them in no part of the Empire."*
* Barriiel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 317*
andEffe^s of Illuminifnu 175
CHAP. XIII.
Collateral Proofs, and General Obfervations, in rela- iion to Europe*
1 HE evidence, and authentic documents,
which have been exhibited, it is conceived are
fuch, as can leave no doubt of the exigence
and active operation of Illuminifm from i yy6^
until thefe works of darknefs were brought
to light, and their promoters compelled to
change their mode of procedure. Moil of the
late European writers, where propriety would
permit, allude to it as an indubitable facb. It
is not, indeed, denied even by thofe who feem
mod difpofed to quiet our apprehenfions onthis
fubje^l : their efforts are directed to prove,
either that its operation is now at an end, or,
that it never was defigned to produce, nor
was indeed capable of producing, the evils
afcribed to it. Whether the fubverfion of
fuperftition and defpotifm was the whole aim
of thefe plotting geniufes, their writings and
\ cpndu^a; will enable us to judge.
lyS Proofs of the Ex'f^ence
' The ilatements and obfervations in this chapter are principally defigned to fhew, that the contagious poifon is ilill fpreading and in- feding fociety, threatening the deflru(5tion of everything important to mankind, and there- fore, that the hiftory of this fed is a fubjecb highly interefting.
Admitting that the order of the Illuminees is now extincl, their fyilems and dodrincs remain ; the books by which they communi- cated their poifon are in circulation ; the arts by which they inveigled and corrupted the minds of men are not forgotten, and the former members of this fociety ftill poffefs the ikiil, the wicked fubtlety, to which the care of Weifiiaupt formed his adepts. To prove that fuch deftrudive arts have exifled, is virtually to prove that they ftill exift ; that is, that the care and caution of the wife and good ought to be the fame, as if they were alTured of their prefent exiftence and adual operation. Can it be a doubt whether wick- ed men will ufe the moft effedual weapons in their power ? Whether they will adopt thofe means which they judge beft calculated to promote their purpofes ? It belongs to the art of fortification to provide againft every poili- Ue mgde gf attack. The iiwentioxi gf artillery
and Effects of Illumlnifm* 177
pointed out the neceflity of new means of de- fence, and it became the engineer to conftru^t works, which would repel their deftrudive violence. The legiflator, the inftru^lor of youth, the moralift, the defender of chrillian-. ity, have new arts to encounter, new modes of attack and inftruments of mifchief to guard^ againft ; how necelTary, then, that they fhould become acquainted with the weapons of their, enemies, and of their new modes of attack ?
Although the dilTolution of this combina- tion has been confidently afferted, the evidence of the fad does not appear. The interruption it has received from detection, would natural- ly produce an increafe of caution ; but can it be fuppofed to efFed any change in the willies or defigns of the confpirators I Is the thing in itfelf probable ? The proof adduced is merely, of the negative kind, and much of this is con- tradidled by plain fa6ls.
In 1 794, it was announced to the public, that from 1790, "every concern of the lUuminees had ceafed»" But in addition to what has been already related of a contrary afped:, many circumftances contradict this aifertion.
1^8 Proofs of the Exiflence
In 1 79 1 5 a fpark of Illuminifm caught in Ireland, and fpread with aftoniihing rapidity, threatening a univerfal conflagration. The confpirators there alTamed the denomination cf United Irifhmen.* This extenfive combi- nation was concealed under forms very fimi- lar to thofe of Mafonry, and the whole v/as methodized upon the graduated fcale of lilui- minifm.
The fubordinate focieties confifted of thirty members, and were under the diredion of a Bai'onial commit tee, compofed of a delegate
* See the report of the Committee of Secrecy, prcfent- ed to the Irifh Houfe of Commons, July, 1797, with the papers and teftmicnies upon wliich faid report was found- ed I 2d. edit. London, 1 798, for John Stockdale ; and the Speech of the Lord Chancellor, Feb. 19, 179B, reprinted for J. Stockdale.
What is here introduced in relation to Ireland, is not defigned to intimate that the people of that country did not need a rediefs of grievances. It is noticed merely as an evidence of the exiftence of Illuminifm. It originated from foreign influence. The fyflem adopted was perfeft- ly in the ftyle of the new order. The pafTzons cf the peo- ple were inflamed, and their judgments blinded by raif- reprefentations. They were deceived as to the real object of their leaders. By the fame means infurredlions may be excited under any government where the people are in. a fimiJar flats of vice and ijnorance^
and Effcds of lllumlmfriu 179
jFrom each fociety within the Barony. The Baronial committees in each county, in like manner elected delegates, who formed a coun- ty committee. Delegates from each county committee, formed, in like manner, a provin- cial committee for the government and direclion of the feveral county committees, in each of the four provinces ; and thefe provin- cial diredories appointed the general execu- tive, whofe reiidence was in the metropolis.
The fecretaries of each of thefe committees, were to be taken from an higher committee, and by them the whole correfpondence was maintained, and the orders of the executive tranfrnitted through the different degrees. Thefe orders, for the greater fecurity, were, if poffible, to be communicated verbally, or otherwife, to be immediately deilroyed.
One objed of the union fpecified in the f conftitution was, that of communicating with •; Imiilar fbcieties in other parts, and particu- larly with the Jacobin club at Paris. In addi- tion to the ufual oaths of fecrecy, fubmiilion, &c. every member was folemnly fworn never to give evidence againil a brother, in any court of juflice, ivhatever might be his crime.
^iSo T roofs of the Exijlence
Another requifite oath was fddify to the French
republic*
In April, 1796, the outline of a treaty with France was drawn up by the general commit- tee of the union, and tranfmitted to the French diredory, in confequence of which a French force made its appearance at Bantry BayjOn the 24th of December, but by a miftake between the parties, with, refpect to the time agreed upon for the invafion, the Infurgents were not prepared to co-operate, and the ex-, pedition failed. The accounts detailed in the reports of the feveral committees, reprefent the numbers of this alTociation to be vaftly numerous. It is particularly ftated, that 150,000 were organized and enrolled in the province of Uifter.t
Similar focieties, in clofe union and corref- pondence with this, were formed in England, and Scotland, under different names, but purfuing the fame object. -
A ftatement, ftill more interefting to Amer- icans, is found in the report of a provincial
* Chancellor's Speech, p. 32— IriHi report, Appendix^l No. 4.
f Append'ix, No. 31.
aiid r^ftHs of Illianlnipu \ 8 1
meeting, dated Randolflown, Auguft 14, 1797, from which it appears, that a number of focleties were formed in l>^o'rtb America^ from which, in the laft eight days, Hvo hundred and eleven dollars had been received.*
The cftenfible objecl of this union, was a parliamentary reform ; but the correfpondence with the directory, and the teftimony of fcv- eral witneffes, afford abundant proof, that this was held up merely to blind the people, and that the real objeci: of the chiefs was, a revolu- tion, of v.d:iich the French revolution was to be the model.
Barruel relates fcveral inflances in which the ?.depts were found fomenting confpiracies againft the government, both in Auftria and Pruflla, long after the cellation of all the ope- rations of Illuminifm were announced to the public. Thefe attempts wxre truly formida- ble, and were rendered abortive, only by thofe ftrange accidental occurrences, by which I a governing Providence difappoints the devi- ces of the crafty. One inftance is worthy of notice, as a curiofity. Mchalovich, formerly
* Appendix, No, 14,
1 8 2 "Proofs of the Exigence
a capuchin, was a principal in a conrpira<;y" in Germany. While he was out one day, a domeilic, playing with one of his fellow fer- vants, for the lake of humor, put on the capuchin habit, which his mailer had preferv- ed among his clothes, when his mailer unex- peclediy returned. The fervant, in order to prevent being difcovered with the habit, hid liimfelf under the bed, Mehalovich, with two other confpirators, entered the room ^ and thinking themielves iecure, they con- verted, unreiervedly, upon the confpiracy, which v/as to break out in three days. Me- halovich took five hundred thoufand florins, v/hich were hidden in a harpiichord, and gave them to one of the confpirators for the exe- cution of the plan. After they left the room, the fervant went immediately and difcovered the whole plot to the minlfters of ftate. In the refult, Mehalovich, with eight accompli- ces, was executed, and many others were condemned to exile, or to perpetual imprii; pnment.
This confpiracy exhibits a remarkable in- fiance of the means by which modern revolu- tions have b^en effeaed. The party, dehrous of a new order of things, through their in- fluence at court, found means of forming a ^arrifon in Vienna, of fubftantial and honeft
and Effeds of liliimlnifnu 1 83
Citizens, little accuftomed to bear arms. Thefe new raifed corps, they treated v/ltli the great eft leverity, under the pretence, that what they did was by the order of the emperor ; hoping by this to render the government obnoxious' to them.*
Habitually viewing Europeans as deprived of the rights of men, and groaning under oppreiTion, our attention has been naturally diverted from confidering the real charader ot" modern revolutionifts, and the tendency of their meafures and principles,- From the hap- py fuccefs of their own revolution, Ameri- cans, in particular, have incautiouily indulged the idea, that a revolution muit meliorate ib- ciety \ that nothing more is neceOary to ren» der men free, profperous. and happy, than to overturn ancient eftabiifiim.ents. Even under the adminiftrations of Washington and Ad- ams, thefe children of change, fancied a rev- olution necelTary to preferve our libertieso But what has been exhibited in Europe, may teach us that it is time to paufe, and coniider eonfequenceso
j Would the deluded people of Ireland proba- bly have improved their fituation by overturn-
* Earruel's Memoirs., Vob IV, p. 311, 312.
- o4 Proofs of the Exiflence
ingtheirown government, and throwing them- iblves into the arms of France ? What recom- pence has France herfelf found for her llangh- tered millions, her exhaufted treafuries, and the fcenes of indefcribable diftrefs which have attended lier revolution ? Can a people enjoy, or preferve the bleflings of tem.perate liberty, until they are enlightened and virtuous ? Will unprincipled, ambitious men exert the influ- ence they gain over mankind, to make them free or happy ? Have none but tyrants rea- fon to dread this new, revolutionizing fpirit ? Was not SwiiTerland free ? Were the magifcrates of Geneva defpots ? In fine, is that revolutionary pov/er, which confiils in blinding its agents, and inflaming the bad pallions of a nation by falfe reprefentations, defirabie in any government ?
If oppofition to conftituted authorities, and a pretended zeal for the rights of men, are proofs of patriotifm and benevolence, the prefent may well be called the golden age ; but we have been fufficiently entertained with vague declamations, it is time to attend to £ic1:s and experience.
It is obvious that fociety cannot fubfift, un- iefs thofe are governed who will not govern themfclvcs. Were all the members uf a com-
md Effeas cf Ulummfnu 1 8^5
miinity invariably difpofed to praAice right- coufnefs, to fuch a community, a government of rcflraint would be unneceiTary. On the contrary, a fociety compofed of men of an oppofite character, need the ilrong h?.nd of power to preferve the public tranquillity. Such a government tends indeed to abufe, and perhaps there may not be an inftance, where this rigorous cxercife of authority is maintained, with a perfed regard to juftice and the rights of the fubjeci,- It is^to be regretted that men, invefted with power, are fo little difpofed to approve thernfelves the fathers and benefaclors of their fubjeds,- But- k it therefore dcfirable, in the prefent ilate of mankind, that every government fliGuld be revolutionized into a republic ? Is the mod- ern, faihionable oath, of " hatred to all kings,'' dictated by an enlightened and chriflian benev- olence? That man might asreafonably lay claim to benevolence, who Ihouldioofe the hands of a mad-m,an, and fet him at liberty to deftroy his fam/ily and him.feif. Until a people are enlight- ened and virtuous, republican freedom will degenerate into licentioufnefs, and afford an opportunity to the fa6liou3 and ambitious, by enfiaming the pafiions of men, to erecl a tyranny more to be dreaded dian that of the uiofl arbitrary defpot on earth, 0^2
1 86 Procfs of the Exijicnce
No nation in modern Europe has fufFercd more from an unlimited monarchy than France ; but, feparate from all the mifchiefs which her mad politics have produced to other parts of the world, there certainly has been no equal period under her moll defpotic kings, productive of evils, to be compared %vith thofe w^hich have attended the late rev- olution ; and thefe evils mufl probably have continued, if general Bonapap^te had not fortunately acquired fuxh unlimited control over the nation, as has reftored order and peace.
It is futile to attempt to avoid the conclu- fion, which this fad affords, by obfervingy that thefe evils are to be imputed, not to the people of France, but to factious leaders, who liave made them the dupes of their ambitious vievx^s ; for it is the wretched ignorance, and depravity of a people which make them dupes of fuch leaders. How grofs muft: be the ig- norance of a people who can believe, that fuch men asDanton, Marat, and Robefpierre, are friends to real liberty, and the rights of man ? A vitiated fociety will always have fuch leaders. We may fafely eilimate the charaaer of a people, by that of the perfons in whom they place confidence. This con-*
and EffeBs of IHuminifm.^ 1 8 7
fideration alone, proves, that virtue and in- formation are necciTary to the fupport of a free government. Where thefe are want- m<y^ perfons of the above defcription will never fail, by the cry of tyranny, and a pretended zeal for equal rights, to increafe the jealoufy of a people againll rulers of their own choice ; to withdraw^ from them the neceifary confidence, and to transfer that confi- dence, mofi: improperly indeed, to themfelves. To this evil, republican governments, from the lenity and indulgence which enters into their conftitution, have always been peculiarly expofed ; but the danger is greatly augmented fince the arts of deception have been wrought into a fyftem, and the adive Fropagayida of Illuminifm has been laboring to undermine every government within the reach of its in«. fiuence. From this caufe, every ccnfiderable republic in Europe has undergone a revolu- tion ; and the prefervation of governments of a more rigorous form, is owing.to their greater energy in repelling the invading enemy.
Th: American revolution took place under the happicft omens. It did not originate from the blinding influence of defigning men ; it was not excited by the ambitious defire of renderiD" .Vnv^r'ca miftrefs of the world \
1 88 F roofs of the Exiftcnce
but it owed its rife and progrefs to a jiiiV fenfe, in the Americans, of the rights of inei: j of what was due to themfelves, and to pofter- ity, and a wife, patriotic, and virtuous deter- mination to refifl the firft encroachments of arbitrary power. Simplicity of manners^ habits of economy, induftry, and moderation^ tocrether v. ith amole means of information^ of moral and religious inftrudion, every cir-r cumiilance leemed to promife permanency to our government, and a rich harveft of the bleiTings of freedom. Never was the experU ment of a republican governm.ent made with fairer profpeds of fuccefs. Yet, even here has anarchy reared her horrid front, and f^ruck terror into the hearts of Amiericans^ The arts of intrigue have withdrawn pubHc confidence from approved worth, and tried merit, and all the energies of governments have been called into adion to fupprefs a fpiri5 of infurredion, and open oppofition to con- ilitutional meafures.
There yet appears a large number of citi- zens, we hope a great majority, who fee m fenfible of the importance of clec1:ing men of principle, and of fupporting the moral, and re- ligiouslnftitutlors of our country ; and while fuch is our ntuation, we are not to defpair oi; the republic.
a:id Effcds of lllumlnifnu 189
It is far from the dcilgn of theie obierva- tions, to prove, that a republican gov- ernment is either undeflrable, or impradi- cable; they are intended merely to exhibit the abfurdity of the idea, which many have adopt- ed, that nothing m.ore is necelTary to make any people happy than to reject their own governm.ent, and receive a conilitution from France. Vv^hatever may be the refult of the experiment now making in America, the events which have taken place here, as well as in Europe, give weight to the opinion, that mankind are not generally prepared for the enjoyment of republican blellings.
But it is not merely by exciting revolution:^ and confpiracies, that Illuminifm has difcover- ed itfeif in Europe, fnice wx were told, " that all the concerns of the Illuminees had ceafed.'*
So late as February, 1798, the miagiflrates of Jena were compelled to puniih a number of the {Indents of that univerfity, who had form- ed an affociation, by the name of Amicifts, under the diredion of fome Illuminee. They had been taudit to confider the oath of their aflfociation as fuperceding all others, even the moil facred engagement that could be made. The form of this fociety was mafonic ^ and by (
190 Proofs of the Exiflence
their fecretary, they maintained a regular cor' - refpondence with other lodges. Their code tausfht them to conilder themfelves as a Rate within a ilate ; enjoined the moft profound fecrecy, and exprefsly required, that, fhould- feveral of them afterwards refide in the fame town, they fhould eilablifh a lodge, and do ali^ in their power to propagate thefociety.*
On the authority of fome private communi- cations from Germany, the hiftorian further ftates, that the univerfity at Halle, was in a fniiilar fituation with that at Jena. That pub- lic infults were, offered by the fludents, to the minifters of religion, while attending the du-- ties of their ofHce ; that dogs were fet at them while preaching, and that indecencies' took place in the churches, which would not^ be fuifered in the ftreets.f
The very refpedable writer before quoted 3 of Upper Saxony, fays, " In the great univer^ fities of Germany, which I have feen, or of which I have had any information, the flu-
* See Minutes of the Judgment of Hamburg, No. 45» - ^March 13.
t Barrud's Memoirs, Voi. IV. p. 306 — 316,-
and Effecls of lllummifm. 1 9 1
.dents have the appearance of afct of rude and inlolent Jacobins. In feme univerfities, where the iludents amount to about a thoufand or twelve hundred, they are all formed into pri- .vate focieties ; and that, in all the German univerfLties, the chief ftudy is the new lyilem .of phiiofophy, by v/hich the mind is totally bev/ildered, and at length deprived of every folid principle of religion, morality, or found politics. Unfortunately,^' he adds, "the clergy, and many, even of tliofe Vv^ho ferve the coun- try pariflies, have had their m.inds bewildered with the metaphyfical jargon of the unlverfi- ties. They have come to doubt, and feme to deny, the truths of Chriilianity itfelf ; and to affert, that it is a vulgar fuperftition, adapted only to the ignorant. The Old Teftament has ,very generally loil its authority ; and a coun- try clergyman, lately in company with a friend of mine, laughed heartily at the igno- rance and confined notions of the clergy of the church of England, when he heard they ftill believe the Mofaic hiftory of the fall ^f man."*
A gentleman of great refpecl:ability in Eu- •rope,''in a letter to his correfpondent in A-
^ Appendix to Antl- Jacobin Review, Vol. VI. p. l^^)-
1-92 Proofs of the Eyifzcnce
merica, dated September,! 800, fays, " I lament exceedingly, the too plain ilate ct the public mind on the great points of religion and mo- rality. Religion has been fo freely dealt with now in Germany, that it no longer makes the impreiTion of former times, always mixed with fome tincaire of veneration. It is now entered upon with the fame coolnefs and eafe as any other matter of fcientiiic difcuilion. This of itfelf is a misfortune. It was furely of advantage to us, that the mind could not engage in any religious refearch, without fome- what of the fam.e referve (call it fuperftition if you \Y\X\) that one feels when difcuffing a pc;int of filial duty or relation. , Religion having thus loft all its ufe, it has even cc'afed to occupy its former fhare of room in the perman Catalogues ; and the fcribblers have fairly begun to treat the plain moral duties with the lame freedom. I received lately, a a fmall performance, by one Emmering, at Franckfort, who, even under the tyranny of Cuiline, in 1792, had the boldnefs to attack the profligate fpeeclies of Bohrner and Forfter, in the Convention of Mentz. He ftill pre- ferves the fame unfubdued fpirit ; and though a layman, (a Wine merchant) he nobly m.ain- tains the caufe of religion and virtue. In this httle performance lie mentions feveral tnoft
mid EJuls cf I/li/viirafm, 193
profligate publications, in which tl\e fidelity of the hufband, to the marriage bed, is fyftcmat- ically iliewn to be a frivolous prudery ; and therefore, concubinage, or polygamy, perfeclly proper, under certain regulations, purely civil ; and,whichismoftlamentable,the proper courts, before which this was brought by Emmering iiimfelf, refufed to take it up as a public of- fence. This, at Franckfort, grieved me ; for, •during the revolution at Mentz, the inhabit- ants of Franckfort, behaved in a manner that is not exceeded by any thing on record."
" I was the more affecled by this, becaufe I found that Knigge and VsTeiihaupt, after hav- ing form^ed very high expeclations.from their operations in Edeifa, were difappointed ; and, in 1782, reprobate Edeifa in the moft rancor- ous terms. Phiiofiys, " the inhabitants are too rich, too republican, and will not be led about by the nofe."
" Emmicring m.entions another publication by one Semler, profeiTedly v/ritten to weaken the parental tie, laying it down as a princi- ple, that a man's children liave only an artifi- cial title to his fortune, unlefs they have aided him in the acquifition of it. But the (late, by . giving that protcdion by which the fruits of
194 Proofs of the Exifence
his induftry are fecured to him, has a preferable and natural claim. The aim of this unnatm^al principle is too barefaced, I think, to be dan- gerous. But a companion to it by George Forfter, is moil atrocious. The fons and daughters are made the judges of their parent's character and conduct, and if they find either incivicj they are peculiarly bound to denounce them as undutiful to them (their children) by giving them pernicious principles and educa- tion. I mention thefe things to fhew how the profligate monllers have attempted to revo- lutionize the mind of man'^
We have many unequivocal proofs that this is a juil reprefentation of the flate of re- ligion and literature in Germany. To what views and motives iliall we then attribute the conduct of thofe gentlemen, who endeavor to compel us, by illiberal reproaches, to believe their unfupportcd declarations ? Do they not know that the mind naturally revolts againft iuch unreafonable violence, fuch tyrannicabat- ..tempts to hoodwink our underflan dings ?
and EffeSls of Illumlnifnu 195
CHAP. XIV.
CoUaieral Proofs^ and General Ohfer-vaticnsy relaU ing to the United Staies.
Those who alTureus that Illuminifm was always harmlefs, and has long fmce been extind in Europe, at the fame time ridicule the idea of its having ever exifted in America, or had any influence on our civil or religious interefts. From the peculiar fecrecy of the feci, thefe gentlemen came forward with the greatefl advantages- for gaining credit ; for, they confidently aik, where are thefe lilnmi- n€es ? Point them out to us. With the fame confidence they aifert that we were ignorant of the name.of this order until it was commu- nicated by Robifon. This is true, but if they are impartial, Why do they not lay open the whole truth ? Why do they not tell us that the flrength of the order lies principally in concealment, and that it alTumcs any name or form, rather than its own proper one t Why
19^ Proofs of the Exijience
do they not tell us, what they very well know, that, even in their native foil, Bavaria, their name and exiftence were equally un- knov/n,till their deeds difcovered their retreat, and induced an inquiry, which brought to light their hidden works of darknefs ? The inquiry before us does not r^fped names and appellations. We are not contending that there are, or have been, rnen in America, known as Illuminees. The important facl is> that men in America, under the direftion and influence of a foreign head, are, or at lead have been, combined in oppoiition to our peace, profperity and welfare. A raili, un- founded fuggeflion of this nature would be- highly criminal ; it is here made with folem- Xiity, and under a conviclicn, that the evidence: by which it is fupported, affords juil caufe o£- alarm.
Upon the lid of illuminated lodges, furnifh-- ed bv t)r. Robifon, feveral are tnentioned as exiilingin America before 1786.*
The zeal with v/hich Dr. Morfe has invefti-»i gated this matter, as it refpeds this country,, though it has loaded him with that kind ofj obloquy which is the good man's praife,h"as
* Robi. on*s Proo f •. p. 159.
and Effucls ofllluminlfnu 10,7
furniftied feme important documents with which we fhall enrich this part of the fubject.
In an Appendix to his Faft Sermon, of May 9, 1798, he gives us a particular account of the lodge Wisdom, inftituted at Portfmouth in Virginia, as early as 1786, a branch of the Grand Orient of France, and numbered tlie 2660th defcendant of that fleck.* From an original letter, for the authenticity of which he pledges himfelf to the public, he has fur- niflied us with an official hft of the numbers, names, ages, places of nativity, and prof ellions of the oiHcers and miCmbers of this lodge, to- gether with their, horrid feal, in v/hich, with fome of the ufualmafonic fym.bols, are inter- woven emblems of carnage and death. The members of this lodge, confifting of one hun^ dred, were chiefly emigrants from France and St. Domingo. This lodge had a deputy reficU in-g with the miOther fociety in France, to com- municate all needful inflrudions. Tvv o fimilar focieties had originated from the Portfmouth lodge, one inVirginia, the other at St. Domingo,
R2
* PartlcLrlnr mtnlion Is made of this kclge by Barrucl, Vol. IV. p. 213,.
1 9B Proafs^ of the Exylena
By the fame means he had evidence of the exlftence of a fimihr foclety at New York,;^ called '' The Grand Orient of New York,'**' derived, in like manner, from the lodge of the fame name in France. From this New York lodge ifiiied a French lodge, called the Union,. which was the i.ith branch from this feconda- ry ftock. The particular location of the other lodges, or whether the number here fpecified,. included the whole v/hich were then. in Ame- rica^ v/ere not known.
It is an important item of information,., which the Docfcor further communicates oa; this fubject, that the bell informed Free Ma- fons among us, difclalm thefe focieties ; the titles of fome of their dignitaries, their feal snd motto they declare are not mafonic. In. the clofe he introduces the following calcula- tion, which, though obvious, is interefting.. Admitting all thefe American lodges, individ- ually, to contain an equal number of members with the lodge Wifdom, the calculation gives at that tim^e, no lefs than 1700 agents of Illu- minifm in Am.erica, in clofe connection and correfpondence with each other, and Vv'lth the Grand Orient at Paris, from which they^^rc- ccived conftant illumination ; und we may
and Effecls of Illuniimfni. 199
z\},d^ ading under the influence of a fociety, which was the active foul and vital fpring of thofe fcenes of horror exhibited in France and Gther^arts of Europe,
A very refpedlable Mafon, formerly Grand Mailer of all the lodges in the State in which he reiided, informed me, that a letter, defigned for one of the abovementioned lodges, fell in- to his hands while he was Grand Mailer, by a very natural miilake, and which left him no room to doubt the accuracy and authenticity of what Dr. Morfe has flated on this fubjed* He could not afcertain particulars, as the time of his receiving the letter was previous to the difcovery of Illuminifm, and confequently it appeared more enigmatical than it probably v/ould at prefent ; and iince that time, it has been miilaid, or taken out of his poffeiHon.
The following facts, received from unquef- lionable authority, confirm the trath and accuracy of the above reprefentation. A gentleman of high refpedlability, who fays, **^ he belonged to a lodge of the ancient order of Mafons," and was in a fituation to know per- fectly the character and con duel of the Portf- rnouth lodge, under date of March 23, 1800, writes thus to Dr. Morfe ; " The lodge in
200 Proofs of the Exlflcnce
Portfmouth, to which you allude, in your appendix, called the French lodge, was con- fidered by me as under the modern term (f ?7iafonry. Its members, in 1789, were moftly French. Some men who were refpeclable, and attached to our government, Dickfon and Cox, particularly, belonged to the lodge at that time. It is probable about the time Admiral Cambis' fleet arrived there from St. Domingo, there might have been many en^ thufiaftic Frenchmen admitted, which fwell' the num.ber in your lift."
April II, 1800, the fame gentleman write,?, *' That you had good grounds to fufpe<5l the deiiens of the French lodsre at Fortfmouth in Virginia, I have no reafons, nor ever had, to doubt ; and, at a time, it is evident to me, that their work was to effed the plans of France in this country; and that the bulk of the members- who compofed the lodge in 1797, were ready to further any defigns which the French gov- ernment may have had on this country, and to give their aid to carry them into effect, as they Vv'^ere moftly Frenchmen. The few Americans admitted were to prevent their be'uig fufpeded^'Widi they could operate without them ; as I am convinced they never were admitted to the higheft degrees/'
a7id Effects of llhiminifm.. 20 1
Add to the above, that this French lodge at Portiinouth, v/as not in fellowfliip with the other k)dges of the ancient order of Mafons ; and that one of its members froniGermanVjat a period when. Americans generally thought favorably of the French revolution, declared, (and the declaration can be fubflantiated) that he belonged to a lodge in Germ^any, in v.'hich that revolution was planned. Thefe. fads, and thofe originally Rated, together with credible information, received direft from the moil refpcclable men in Portfmouth, prove inconteilibly the corrednefs of the account which has been publifhed of this lodge.
Although the above documents have never been confronted with any evidence, unlefs clamor and abufe may be fo called, yet, as this mode of reafoning has its influence with fome people, I muil beg leave to introduce another refpcdable mafonic teftimony. It is an extrad, furniflied by a friend, from a printed oration, delivered Februai-y 3d, A. L. 5801, before the Grand Royal Arch Chapter for the ftate of Nev/-York, by the Rev. John F. Ernft, Grand Chaplin. The friend who furniihes the extrad, writes, that he (the orator) '' is held in high, very high eHima-
202 Proofs of the Exijlence
tion by the Mafons in thofe parts/' The orator, guarding his brethren againil the wrong ufe which he acknowledges has been made of Mafonry, in many inflances, intro- duces the following fentence.
"The unravelled and deepdefigns of modern. Mafons, called the Illuminati, who have almoll inundated Europe, and are gaining ground fafl in America^ have clearly demonftrated the abufe, iiniykd Mafon lodges have ?net with ; and how they, when not prefided over, and guarded by men of knowledge, and genuine mafonic principles, can be overthrown, revolu* tionized, and moulded according to pleafure,^'
Are thefe documents deferving no credit ? Shall we renounce our reafon, becaufe fome men will not believe unlefs they have 2, lign from heaven ? And if true, do they not afford juft caufe of alarm?. Admitting this was a full difcovery of the extent of lilumin^ ifm in America, at that time, and that iince that time, it has received no increafe, which is f^vr from being probable ; is a body of feventeen hundred men, a6ling, with the force of fecret focieties, and under the direclion of a foreign power, compatible with the peace, qpiet.and fafety of this country? We need
and Effects of lllumlmfm, 203
no longer wonder at the confidence the French Directory expreiled in their diplomatic Jiilll and- influence in America, or the prev- alence of the new philofophy, and the alarm- ing change which has taken place here, in the flate of religion and morals. ' It is no longer furprifmg, that every method has been adopted to excite oppofition to the meafures of the late adminillration of our government, to viHfy our bell characters, and to alienate the minds of the citizens from their rulers ; or, that native Americans have been compelled to yield their feats to foreigners. This affords an eafy explanation, of what, without [ this key, mxufc appear myfterious, that a 'period, in which we have enjoyed all that men can enjoy of the bleflings of a free and \ excellent government, attended with a degree [ of profperity, which has fcarce its parallel in i the hiftory of mankind, has been a period of complaint, of tumult and infurrec^ion. Nor is it unaccountable that we lliould hear it afferted, with the higheft effrontery, that our ^ greatefl danger arifes, not from France, from ., Illuminifm, or felf-created focieties, but, from ^4he tyranny of the clergy, and from Britifli influence. Thefe are among the known arts of Illuminifm. Whoever has carefully ob- ferved its progrcfs in Europe, w^iil eafily
\
2G4- Proofs aj the Exigence
difcern the features of the moiifter, under all its conceahrtents. It is an axiom «in lUumin- ifm, upon which its difciples, both in Eu- rope* and America, have formed their prac- tice, that the m.oil egregious and abfurd falfehoods, if told with confidence, and confi- dently repeated, will at length gain credit and influence.
As has been ftated, we have ample proof, that focieties have exifled in America, derived from the Grand Orient in France, and inti- mately connected with that directing head of ail the improved, or illuminated lodges in France. This evidence, coming from different quarters and diftincl fources, is greatly cor- roberated by that circumftance, and acquires an additional claim to our belief. But will it be faid, becaufe illuminated focieties, con- nected with thofe in France, once exifted in America, it is not therefore certain that they were united in defign with the parent fociety, or wifhed to extend the empire of Illuminifm ? Though Jacobin clubs were fuddenly formed in every part of the United States, fimilar to thofe, in France, by means of w^hich, the Jacobins governed the natron at their pleafure, yet this, it may with as much truth be Hiid, is no demonftration that the
and Effects cf llluniinifnu 2 05
clubs in America were formed for the like purpofe. Thus men rcafon, who are deter- mined not to admit conviclion. But can any perfon, not blinded by prejudice, doubt whence arofe the oppofition made to the adoption of the federal conftitution, and to every meafure, calculated to eilabliih the independence, profperity, and refpedabiiity of our country? It is not commonly to be •expecled-, that we liiould be able to fubftan- tiate, by legal evidence, the fecret machinations of the emiifaries of darknefs. Their intentions are not to be difcovered by their profeilions, and oilenfible charadler ; but often they iin- v/arily expofe themfelves to the wakeful eye of wifdoni.
Before the fyftematical arrangements of Illuminifm becam.e public, the active inter- ference of France in America was vifible to every perfon of difcernment, who was not oppofed to conviclion. It is well known that the activity of Genet, by granting commif- fions to privateers, procuring the enlillment of foldiers, forming clubs, extending the influence of France, and by his attempts to j excite oppofition to government, and to alienate the minds of the people from their rulers, produc ed a remonflrance on the fubjed
a 00 Proofs , of the Exifience
from our watchful Prefident, which rendered his recal unavoidable. To exculpate thofe under whofe commiHion Genet acled, his conduct in America has been attributed to his imprudently exceeding his commiffion. This is eafily faid, as many other things have been, without a coloring of truth. Genet had his recommendation for the Am.erican appoint- ment, in the proofs he had given of his difor- o-anizing qualities at Geneva, where he had been the fuccefsful agent of the fame deteftable policy. But v/e are not left to conjectures refpecting the grounds of his appointment, Robefpierre, wiiliing to crufli the BriiTotine faction, that he might poffefs their power and influence, charges them with their unjuii attempts againU: other governments, and with ^•efped to America, fays exprefsly, " Genet, their agent at Philadelphia, made himfelf chief of a club there, and never ceafed to m^ike and excite motions equally injurious and perplex- ing to the governmentc"
Defeated in this attempt, by the vigilance of Washington, but not difcouraged, ren- dered more cautious, but not lefs malicious, the agents of France ftill purfued, though with greater fecrecy, their diforganizing fvftcm. In 1 795, Fauchct's intercepted letter
anclEffals of Illumlni/m. 207'
again difclofed their dark defigns, and the real charader of " the pretended patriots^ of America." The memorable fentence, relating to the infurgents in the weilern counties, will not be foon forgotten. He informs his gov- ernment, that the weftern people, " Repub- licans by principle, independent by charader and fituation, they could not but accede with enthufiafm to the criminations which we have fketched.''* The grievances of thefe deluded people, or their criminations of gov- ernment, were not, it appears,, fuggefted by their own feelings, but by French agents, who dilated to them what were the cenfurable proceedings of their conftituted authorities.
This is not the Uril time this oiHcious-
nation has Iketched grievances, and excited
thofe who were at reft, to arm themfelves
againft their own governments. But left this
Jkub fhould not meet the feelings, and obtain
the full approbation of thefe repubHcans,
Fauchet adminifters to his em.ployers, this
further confolation, that " thefe complaints
were fyftematizing by the converfation of
influential men, who retired into thofe wild^
^ countries, and who, from principle, or by a
"^ f erics cf particular heart-burnings, animated dif-
contents, already too near to effervefcence."t
* Fauchet's Letter, i©th parag. f '^'^^^" -^th panig.
2o8 Proofs of the Exiji'ence
It mufl now be left with the reader to deter- mine, whether or not he will allow Mr. Fauchet, and his influential coadjutors, the pralfe he claims of exciting an infurredion^ which coil the United States more than a inilllon of dollars.
As Mr. Fauchet has not told us what argu- ments his influential asrents would ufe to promote the infurreclion, the defect may be fupplied by the following communication, made by a gentleman of accurate information, and of the firfl refpectability in Pennfylvania ; who warrants us to allure the public, that ^' the plunder of the city of Philadelphia vjas pronu ifed to the h fur gents in 1794, hy their leaders.'*
The focieties of United Irilhmen next mark the progrefs of Illuminifm in America. In May, 17983 the declaration and conflitution of the American Society of United Iriflimen were difcovered, and publifhed inPhiladelphia* This fociety was evidently founded on the principles of the illuminated lodges in Europe ; and we are not left in the dark as to their objefl ; for no one, who will attentively read their conflitution, can hefitate to fay, it was to enlift and ors:anize the difcontented and ra<5lious, and particularly foreigners^ in the
and Effeas cf Illuminlfm. 209
difFerent parts of the United States, in order to difFufe the fpirit, and promote the infernal defigns, of Illuminifm in this country. Their conftitution is drawn up with confiderabie ingenuity. The oftenfible objed of their affociation, was to ad in concert with their United brethren in Ireland,- ''Equality and Liberty to all men," was, at the fame time, held forth in their declaration ; and in their tefl, each- member pledged himfelf, that he would direct all his efforts to the " attainment o^ liberty T^ndi- equality to mani-^Tind, in ivhate'-cer country he may refide'' The fedion which immediately follows the tejt, exhibits a ftrong evidence, that the oftenfible objed of the fociety, was not the real one 5 and, that under the femblance of humanity, was concealed a projecl: far from the emancipation of mankind. The fedion is this: "That the /£/2 of this fociety, and the intention of this inftitution, (in all other refpecl:s than as a foclal body^ attached to freedom): be confidered as Jlcret and inviolable, in all cafes, but between mem- bers, and in the body of the fociety." The exiflence of this fociety, the intended fecrecy of its defigns, and the evident tendency of its labors, exhibit further, and ftrong proof, that the baneful influence of Illuminifm is- dijiiufing itfelf through this CQiAntry. ^2,
2 10 Proofs of the Exijh nee
Although our ears were daily wounded wdth the difgufling extravagancies of France, and our property fubjeded to the moft wan- ton fpoiiations, ftill, from fome fecret caufe, her influence was prevailing in America ; when the directory, milled by the fhameful pliancy of our ambaffador,* entirely mifcal- culated their influence, and the remaining en- ergy of the American chara<fl:er. Sure of their prey, they too foon threw ofT the mafk which concealed their deiigns. Their con- duct towards the American Envoys, who were fent to demand a redrefs of grievances^ was fo repugnant to every fentiment of juf- tice, good faith and propriety, as to admit of 110 apology. The mill, which had been gath- ering around the minds of Americans, and through which France appeared great and magnanimous, was dilTolved in a moment. In vain was recourfe had to the deceptive 2rts which heretofore had been fo fliccefsful. Her deteftable policy filenced her advocates, and united all who regarded righteoufnefs, or felt for the intereft, or dignity of their coun- try. A barrier was now formed, which ap- peared to be a kiting defence againft the in- triguing fpirit of France. We forgot our loffes and fufferings in the pleafmg profped
^^ Mr. Munroc,
and Effeds of Ilhmiinifm. 2 1 1
that our countrymen would forever efcape her deceptive fnares. But, aias, thefe hopes have vanifned. Subfequent events, which have lulled the fears, and impaired the en- ergies of our countrymen, have furnifhed unhappy opportunities to thefriends of France, to propagate her principles, and extend her influence, in America ; and at no period, per- haps, has their fuccefs been greater, than for the laft three or four years. What is to be the refult, cannot be forefeen.
The infxuence of Washington, more ex- tenfive, perhaps, than ever one man acquired over a nation, proved, during his adminiftra-- tion, a great mean, under Providence, of fe- curity againft the infiduous attempts of our enemies, and the progrefs of felf-created foci- eties, of the tendency of which he was aware, and gave faithful warning to his coun- try. At a later period, the full tide of wealth, which has poured in upon almoft all clalTes of citizens has operated as an antidote againR the libels of the enemies of our government. But, if thefe peculiar advantages have fcarcely preferved us from the mortal embraces of France j if a fteady oppofition has been made to a gov- ernment whofe meafures have been uniformly fuccefsful, and murmurs, complaints and in-
0. 1 2 I" roofs cf the ExifUnce
furreclions have marked a period, attended with every foothing circumllance of prof- perity, what may we not fear from thofe preffing difhcukies which may arife, and which, probably, will be the refult of thofe luxurious habits we are now forming, when the means of gratification, as they muft be, are contraded ? What indeed can we expe6l in any circumilances, fbould the fpirit of llluf minifm continue its progrefs \ fhould our re- newed intercourfe with France, extend the influence of thofe principles which have al- ready been too fuccefsfully diffeminated. ia America ?
Although the obfervations in this chapter have- a political afpetl, they have not been introduced with a political defign, but in evi- dence of the progrefs of the genius of Illu- minifm, the conftant attendant of French influence. France is the region of llluminifm, and her policy and principles are dictated by its fpirit. The leading characters in her revolu- tion have publicly avowed the fentiments fo induflrioufly propagated by Voltaire, and fyf- tematically taught in the fchool of Weifliaupt.
In a difcourfe, compofed by Anachariis CloQtS; and printed and drwlatcd by order
and EfecJs of Illuminifnu 2 1 3
of the National Convention, we find the follovvlng fentiments. " Man, when free, wants no other divinity than himfelf. Reafon dethrones both the kings of the earth, and the kmg of hea-oen. No monarchy above, it we wilh to preferve our republic below. Vol- umes have been written, to determine whether ^ republic of Atheiils could exiil: I maintain, that every other republic is a chimera. If you admit the exigence of an heavenly fove- reign, you introduce the wooden horfe within your walls ; what you adore by day, will be your deftruaion at night.^'* By virtually abolifhing the chriftian fabbath, enthroning Reafon in the temples of the Deity, and by affixing to their burying-grounds the infcrip- tion, " Death is an everlaftingf.eep'' a fentiment exprelTive of the eifence of atheiim, the Con- vention gave the moil explicit fandion to the above principles.
This is French liberty ; the liberty they wifli to propagate. The ftate of their finances required that they fliould be more immediate- iy active in promoting revolutions in govern- ments, than in propagating- atheifm; as every, revolution afforded a pretext for plunder,, and for demanding contributions, but, in
* Relidence in France.
214 F roofs of the Exijlence
the mean time, they have not been inaclive w. their attempts to aboiifli, what they ftyle, " the tyranfiy of heaven.^* Their Anti-Chriftian writings, which have been rapidly circulated, even in thefe diftant regions, and their Propaganda^ afford ample proofs of their zeaL Girtanner, in his memoirs on the*French revolution, eilimates " the acling members of the club of the Fropagandifis^ at fifty thoufand,' and their general fund, in 1 791, at thirty millions of livres ; that they are extended" over the v/orld 5 having for their objed the prom.otion of revolutions, and the doctrines of atheifm. It is a maxim in their code, that it is better to defer their attempts for fifty years, than to fail in them through too much precipitation."*
That the principles of infidelity have- attended the progrefs of French influence in> America, does not admit of a doubt. The truth of this remark is evident from infpec- tion. Who can avoid feeing, and who that believes the importance of religion to man- kind, can avoid lamenting, the alarmiing; revolution v/hich has taken place here, in the effential dodrines of natural and revealed;
* BarruePs Memoirs, Vol II. p. 245.
and Effi^ls of llhwmijm, 2 1 5
.religion ? The fentiment has not yet been openly avowed, but I have fatisfying evidence, that it has been more than once alTerted, to this effed, that zvc never Jljould be free until the chriftian church was aholifloed.
The two following articles of information were communicated by a gentleman of the firft refpeclability in Pennfylvania, to his cor- refpondent in New England, who has favored me with his letter :* He writes, " On the oc- cafion of the eledion of citizen M'Kean, an altar was ereded on the commons, on which the ftatues of liberty and peace were placed. Large libations were poured on the altar by ,the priefts of liberty, who were clothed in white, with red caps, (luck round with fprigs of laurel. After which an ox was facrificed before the altar, and its flefh divided among a thoufand citizens, while many republican toails were drank by the company. The ox was likewife adorned with garlands, accord- ing to the Pagan ritual."
The other article is as follows-: " It was ^ lately propofed in Ricket's Circus, (at Phil^- ! delphia) to exhibit a view of Hell, for the di-
•^ The original is with the aiKhor.
2 1 6 Proofs of the Exlftencc
veriion of the good company, and fucli exhi- bition would have taken place, liad not the combuftibies, prepared for the occafion, taken fire too foon, and confumed the houfe." The firfl account, the writer fays, " is taken from a democratic paper, printed at York (Penn- fylvania) and with refpecl to both, he adds, " You may rely on the accuracy of the in- formation."
The following ftatement is taken from a printed abftrad of the fociety, for the propa- gation of the gofpel in foreign parts, for the year, ending the 21ft February, 1800, and an- nexed to Dr. Courtenay's anniverfary fermon.
*' A fed, called New Lights, but compofed of the moft enthufiaftic and extravagant of the different denominations in Nova Scotia, have lately appeared in that province, whofe political, are faid to be equally dangerous with their religious principles. It is beUeved that the conductors of thefe people are engaged in the general plan of a total revolution in relig- ion and civil government ; and it is a certain fact, that the Age of Reafon, Volney on the Ruin of Empires, and a falfe reprefentation of the French Revolution, have been fecretly handed about by profefied New Lights/'
and EffeBs of Illuminijm, 1 1 7
CHAP. XV.
m CONTINUATION.
In the former chapter, fome documents were introduced to prove that the noxious weed of Illuminifm had taken root in our happy foil, and was here difFufmg a poifon, more penetrating and mortal than that of the famous Bohan Upas. Let us now examine the afpecl of fa^ls, which are univerfally known to exiil, and obferve their agreement with this hypotheiis. If all appearances harmonize with the fentiment here advanced, and are unac- countable on every other fuppofition, this will give much additional weight to the proofs already adduced. Indeed, the evidence refult- ing from the exifting (late of things, often impreffes the mind with a con\d6tion, no lefs forcible, than the moil pofitive tefnmony. This kind of evidence, however, requires an equal balance ; its due weight can never be afcertained where tlie unfteady hand of
^ 1 8 Froofs of the Exijlence
palTion holds the beam, or where prejudice poileiTes the fcale.
Perfuaded that. there are many of my fellow citizePxS, who are not guided by prejudice or partiality, I would invite them to a calm and deliberate confideration of the following que- ries, founded on the {late of things among us, as they have exifted, and do now exift.
I ft. Whence ariles the avowed attachment of a numerous party, in this country, to France ? Why are we conftantly luearing, that ilie is the only nation in whom we can repofe confidence, on whofe fidelity we can rely ; the only friend of the rights of man ? Why are all her enormities fo induftrioufly palliated, and her viclories celebrated as the triumphs of ri2:htCQufnefs ?
Perhaps there has never been an Inflancein the hiflory of man, of a more finccre and dif- interefted fricndfliip between two nations, than that which once fubfifted between Ame- rica and France ; and I hope there is not now a citizen in the United States, who would not feel a fmcere and ardent pleafure in the return of that nation to the paths of wifdom, and the enjoym.ent ofthefweets of civil and re-
and EffcSls of lliumlnifm* 215
Irgious liberty. But what muft be in the heart of that man, whofe feelings accord with her principles, and who is gratified with the fucccls of her prefent meafures ? Mufl not every friend to fociety, to order, and religion, adopt, with refped to France, the energetic language of the Patriarch, "O my foul, come not thou into their fecret ; unto their alTem- bly, mine honor, be not thou united ?'' Whence then the charm wliich fo flrongly binds fuch a numerous party in this country to France ?
Is it their malicious oppoiition * to the
* Sunday, Nov. 17, Anacharfis Cloots did homage to the Convention, and made the follovving propofal. ** It is now become an acknowledged trutli, that the ad- verrarles of religion have, well deferved of mankind. On this accomit, I demand, that a ftatiie be ere<5l:cd to the firil: abjuring priefl, in the temple of reafon." The pro- pofal of Cloots was referred to a commdttee, and adopted.
In the fame month, on the motion of Chanmette, ^•liich was received with applaufes, it was rcfolved in the Council of Paris,
T. That all the churches and temples of diiferent religions and worfliip, which are known to be in Paris, (hall be inftantly fhut.
2. That whatever troubles may enfue in Paris, .in confequence of religious motives, the priells and miniders
220 Proofs of the Exijience
Chrillian religion, burning their bibles,* oblit- crating the chriilian fabbath,t paying divine honors to imaginary deities,| and counte-
of the different religions, fiiall each be particularly refponfible.
3. That every perfon, requiring the opening of a church, or temple, fhall be put under arreft, as a fulpe<5ted perfon, &c. &c/* — Kett on Prophecy, London edit. 1800, Vol. II, p. 240.
% ii What," fays an intelligent American gentleman, in a letter to his friend in Bofton, dated at Havre, Nov. 24, X 793, " What do our good folks think of dethroning God, burnhig the Bihk^ and fautting up the churches ? Before I came here, they burnt the bible in the public fouare, pulled down the images of Jefus and Mary, in tlie churches, and iilled the niches with thofe of Reafon and Liberty, &c. See Dr. Morfe's Thankfgiving Sermon, 17985 p. 22.
■\ " Od. 25, 1793? ^ '^^"^ calender vras propofed, and adopted by the Convention, with a view to obliterate the remembrance, as well as cbfervance of that holy day, which has been, from the earlieft times, confecrated to the exercife of public devotion. Feftlvals were appointed at iiated periods, fimilar to thofe which were eftablifhed in limes of Idolatry, to the Virtues, to Genius, to Labor, to Opinion, to Rewards." Kett, VoL II. p. 236. See alfo, Refidence in France, p. 270, New- York edit.
X " The magnificent church 6f St. Genevieve, at Paris, was changed, by the National Alfembly, into a repofitory for the remains of their great men, or rather into a pagan temple, and as fuch, was aptly diflinguifhed by the name cf die Pantheon,''* [N.B. The Fantheo?: ivas a he aut'iful edifice
and Effc8s of llhtmlnifm, 221
nancing, even in their National Affembly, the
at Rome^ attcic7itly a temple^ dedicated to all the Gods. ] " To this temple, the remains of Voltaire and of RoiTeau were conveyed in folemn and magnificent proceffion. The bones of Voltaire were placed upon the high altar, and incenfe was oftered. And when the infatuated multitude bowed down before the relics of this arch enemy to Chrift, in filent adoration, a voice, a fmgle voice, was heard to utter, in a tone of agonv and indignation, thefe memaorable words ; 0 Cod, thou nyjilt he revenged I Search was im.medl- ately made for the man, who thus dared to interrupt thefe rites, and this Abdiel was, probably, facrificed to the fury of the multitude." Kett, VoL II. p. 233.
"Previous to the tenth day, on w^hich a celebration was to take place, a deputy arrived, accompanied by the female goddefs ; that is, (if the town Itfelf did not pro- duce one for the purpofe) a Roman drefs, of white fatin, V7as hired from the theatre, with which, fhe was inveded, her head was covered with a red cap, ornam.ented with oak leaves, one arm was reclined on a plough, the other grafped a fpear, and her feet were fupported by a globe, and environed by mutilated emblems of feodality.
" Thus equipped, the divinity and her appendages were borne on the (lioulders of Jacobins *^en hoiinet rouge P and efcorted by the national guard, mayor, judges, and all the ccnftituted authorities, who, whether diverted or indignant, were obliged to preferve a refpedful gravity of exterior. When the whole cavalcade arrived at the place appointed, the goddefs was placed on an altar eredled for the occafion, from whence fhe harangued the people, who, In return, proifered their adoration, and fung the Carmagnole, and other republican hymns of the fame kind. They then proceeded In the fame order to the principal church, In the choir of which the fame cere= T 3
2 2 2 Proofs of the Ex't/lcnce
mofl: impious blafphemies againft the God of Heaven ? *
Has France recommended herfelf to our edeem by thofe horrid murders, and fcenes of carnage and blood, which fpared neither the hoary head, the innocent fupplicating female, nor the harmlefs infant, but added wanton barbarity to her pretended acls of
moriies were renewed ; a priefl; wiis procured to abjure his faith, and avow the whole ofChriftianity an impofture: and the feftival concluded with the burning of prayer books, faints, confeffionals, and every thing appropriated to the ufe of public worfhip. The greater part of the attendants looked on in filent terror and aftoniiliment ; while others, intoxicated, or probably paid to a£l the fcandalous farce, danced round the flames, with an ap- pearance of frantic and favage mirth. It is not to be forgotten, that reprefenti;tives of the people, often pre- fided as the high priefts of thefe rites ; and their official difpatches to the Convention, in which thefe ceremonies were minutely defcribed, were always heard with burfts of applaufe, and fanclioned by decrees of infertion in tlie BuUetln^ a kind of official newfpaper, diftributed at the expenfc of government, in large tov/ns, and polled up in public places." See ReridenceinFrance,p.2 7o,N.Y.ed.
* "Nov. 1 793, the pupik of the new repubhcan fchool, of the fcftion des Areis, appeared at the bar, and one of them fet forth, that all religious worfiiip had been fup- prelTed in his fedion, even to the very idea of religion, lie added, that he and his fchool fellj'ws detcjled Cod, and ih:;t, inftcad of learning fcripture, they learned the decla-
and Effects of llluminifDU 1 23
jullice f and perfecuted the minillers of relig-
ratlon of rights. The prefident having expreffed to the deputation the fatisfaaion of the Convention, they were admitted to the honors of the fitting, amidft the loudeft applaufe." Kett, p. 224.
* " Sept. 2, 1792. The people broke open the prifon rA the Abbaye, and commenced a malTacre of the prif- oners. Many had been confined on flight fufpicions ; many poor priefts, on no particular accufation, but merely becaufe they were priells. The fame horrid fcenes were extended to all the prifons in Paris.
Amon^ the unhappy vi(5tlms who fuffered on this oc* cafion, was Madame de Lamballe, whofe only crime was, the friendfhip of the queen. She was ftruck on the head with the bludgeon of onealfaflin, and her head feparated from her body by the fabre of another. The body, after a feries of indignities, not to be related, was trailed by the mob through the ftreets." Moore's Journal, Bofton edit. Vol. T. p. 183 — 189.
Kett, defcribing the fame event, fays, « Three fucceff- Ive nights and days, fcarcely meafured their alTaffmations of prepared viaims, who had been, from motives of pri- vate hatred and revenge, imprifoned. Seven thoufand fix hundred and five perfons were inhumanely murdered, and the ajfafins publicly demanded their fwages. During the Ihort interval between thefe bloody fcenes, the paf- fions of die populace were fired ; the relentlefs Pvoland had the care of the general police ; the bloody Danton was the minifter of jufllce ; the infidious Petion was mayor of Paris, and tlie treacherous Manuel was procu* rator of the common hall. Thefe magiftrates were evi- dently, either the authors, or the accefiaries, of thefe paaiTacres." Kett, Vol. II. p. 235.
224 T roofs of the Exiftence
ion with marks of peculiar rancor ?* Or are they pleafed with the loofe morality of France ^t where the facred obligations of the
*^ A fourth of thefe, our reprefentatives,'* fajs the author of La Conjuration, page i6o, " ripped open the wombs of the mothers j tore out the palpitating en^- bryo, to deck the point of a pike of hberty and equal* ity." Many inflances of the hke nature might be pro- duced, but I am not wiUing to torture the feehngs of the reader.
* The commlilioner Garnier wrote thus to the Con- vention, on''the nth of December, 1793 : " Ihavecauf- ed fifty eight priefts to be drowned." The next month he writes again, " Ninety prieds have juil; been brought to me ; I have drowned them, 'which has given 7ne great pkafure.^* " It appears that there have been two milhons of perfons murdered in France, fnice it has called itfelf a republic ; among whom are reckoned 250,000 women, 230,000 children (befides thofe murdered in the womb) and 24,000 chriftian priefts, many of them Proteftants." Kett, Vol. II. p. 252.
The conflagration of 1820 towns, villages, and liam- lets, in one portion of its own territory ; the deliberate affafTmation of women and children, by hundreds and by thoufands ; the horrid pollution of female viftims, expiring or expired ; and the eftablilhment of a tan yard, under the aufpices of government, for manufaduring leather out of the fkins of the murdered citizens, are fadts, which exclufively grace the blood ftained annals of the gallic republic, and give to the revolution a dreadful pre-eminence in guilt." Kett, Vol. II. p. 251.
t '* To keep the minds of the Parifians in the fever of iiilblute gaiety, they are at more expenfe, from the na-
a}i3, Effe^s of Illuminlfvu 225
marriage covenant are diffolved ;* proftitu- tion countenanced ;t fuicide publicly ap- plauded ;| where diffipation meets with no check, and the endearing charities of life are extinguiihed ? || Do thefe perfons find the
tioml treafury, for the fnpport of the fixty theatres, tVaa all the penfions and honorary ofEces in Britain, three times told, amount to. Between the loth of Augnft, 1792, and the ift of January, 1794, upwards of 200 ;;^-u; plays were aded in the Parifian theatres. Their im- morality and their barbarifm exceed all defcrlption.'* Kett, Vol. II. p. 253.
* " In confequence of the decree relative to marriage, it is calculated, that, in 1793, one hundred and fifty di- vorces took place in every month in Paris." Kett, Vol. II. p. 253.
f By a decree of the Convention, June 6, I794» *^^ ^* declared, that there is nothing criniinal in the promifcu- ous commerce of the fexes." Kett, Vol. II. p. 217.
X " Beaurepaire Ihot himfelf at the furrender of Verdun, When the news reached the National AiTembly, M. De- launay propofed, that his remains Ihould be brought from St. Menehold, and interred in a French PantheoHo This was immediately decreed, and an honorary infcrip- tion put on his tomb.'* Moore, Vol. I. p. 238.
fl « A man, or rather a monderi named Philippe, came to the Jacobin club, of which he was a member j and, with a box in his hand, mounted the tribune. Here he made a long fpeech on patriotifm, concluding by a declaration, that he looked upon every one who prefer-
^2ffe T roofs of the Ex'ijlerm
traits of a great nation in the cruel exactions pradifed in Holland 5 in their perfxdious deal- red the ties of blood and of nature, to patriotic duty, as an ariftocrat worthy of death ; and to convince them of the purity and fincerity of Pws own principles, he opened the box, and held up by the grey hair, the bloody and Ihrlvelled heads of his father and mother, which, faid the Impious wretch, I have cut off becaufe they obfti- nately perfifted In not hearing mafs from a condltutlona]^ pried. The fpeech of t?iis panlcide received the loudeft applaufes." Le HIRorlc du Clerge Frangois, or, Hlf^ tory of the French Clergy, p. 328.
The following Information was communicated In a letter from a gentleman of the firfl: refpec1:ability in Eu- rope, to hb friend In the United States, dated Sept. 1800:
" I cannot refrain from mentioning another particu- lar. A Count Soden, proprietor of lands on the borders of the Black Foreft, has feveral fmall Iron Works on his eftates, which occafioned him to be continually riding from place to place during the flay of Jourdan's armyj in that country, in 1796. He publifhed, at Nuremburg, an account of his own obfervations. He had many franfadioRs with the different detachments who ravaged that country, fo that he was perfcc^tly acquainted with the ftute and conducl: of that army. He fays, that to keep the army always in good humor, there was a fund for a theatre,. and concerts of mufic, and balls, at every head-quarters, and that a liberal allovrance was granted to the officers who took with them their wives and mif- trefTes. Each had as many bed-fellows as he could fup- port by his plunder. The ladies, of courfe, were the patronefTes of every gaiety and elegance. But lying in, and particularly, nurfuig^ was altogether incompatible
9999052970892
1802.
Proofs of the rea> ex'^ ^f
and dangerous illurninism ■
.odeoo^'
itaif^"
^;:6/ EffcHs of Illumimfm,
227
g with the Swifs \ or the deteftable arts by hich Geneva was fubjugated to her will ? as llie recommended herfelf to Americans r her determination to plunder us of our operty ?* By her meditated attack on the uthern ftates,! or by thofe unprovoked dep-
ith this plan of the National Councils. The only ren- ly for this, which occurred to their wifdom, was (hor-
fco referens ! ) to dron.v7i the ?ienjo horn infants^ to
■-OWN THtM ! !~] This was aclually done under military cort. A ferjeant and party of foldiers accompanied e murderers, and protecT:ed them from the peafants. ount Soden did not fee any of thefe facrifices with his vn eyes, but he faw two of the innocent vi(5lims, and :; heard feveral of thefe accounts in a way that he could 3t doubt oi their truth. In particular, he faw a clergy- an, at a village about 12 Englifh m/iles from Nurem- irg, who being alfo a magidrate, attempted to hinder e perpetration of the horrid deed. The foldiers threw :m into the river, and fired fome fhots at him and at iofe who faved him. He was fo fortunate as to fave le little innocent, and took it to his houfe and provided nurfe for it. The mother went away next day, with the ;ft of the party, but ftaid feven weeks at a Httle town ve miles off, and in all that time, never once fent ) inquire whether this ifTue of her own blood was dead - alive. All this is publilhed by Count Soden, and his ime affixed as a voucher for tlie truth of it. I defy the anals of human debafement to match this.''
* See Barlow's Letter, March i, 1798. t Harper's Addrefs of March 2, 1799-
P^°°'3ofreatex,sOO
'd
^126
Proofs eft be Exi/lente^
traits of a great nation in the cruel exadior ; pracliled in Holland j in their perfidious dea j
red the ties of blood and of nature, to patriotic duty, s \ an arlftocrat worthy of death ; and to convince them c \ the purity and fincerity of Ws own principles, he opene the box, and held up by the grey hair, the bloody an ■ fhnvelled heads of his father and mother, which, fai the impious wretch, I have cut off becaufe'they obft nately perfifted In not hearing mafs from a conditutioni ^ prieft. The fpeech of this parricide received the loudc I applaufes." Le Hiftoric du. Clerge Frangois, or, Hi ' tory of the French Clergy, p. 328.
The following information was communicated in letter from a gentleman of the firfl: refpe<fl:ability in Ei rope, to hI.-5- friend in the United States, dated Sept, i8oc
" I cannot refrain from mentioning another partlcu lar. A Count Soden, proprietor of lands on the border •of the Black Foreft, has feveral fmall Iron Works on hi eflates, which occafioned him to be continually rldin^ from place to place during the flay of Jourdan's army in that ccimtry, in 1796. He publlfhed, at Nuremburg an account of his own obfervations. He had man] franfadions with the diiferent detachments who ravagec that country, fo that he was perfectly acquainted witl the ftate and condu(ft of that army. He fays, that t( keep the army always in good humor, there was a func for a theatre^.an-d concerts of mufic, and balls, at everj head-quarters, and that a liberal allowance was grantee to the officers who took with them their wives and mif- trefTes. Each had as many bed-fellows as he could fup- port by his plunder. The ladies, of courfe, were the patronefles of every gaiety and elegance. . But lying irii and particularly, nurfmgji was altogether incompatible
sykrt proper^)'
7,tl;tlisJ
ki A
:twii eyes
' aofe Kb
\ ,
imrfefo;
tori'
tH,
and EffeBs of Illumintfrn. iiy
ing with the Swifs \ or the deteftable arts by which Geneva was fubjugated to her will ? Has ilie recommended herfelf to Americans by her determination to plunder us of our property ?* By her meditated attack on the Ibuthcrn ftates,! or by thofe unprovoked dep-
with this plan of the National Councils. The only rem- •dy for this, which occurred to their wifdom, was (hor-
refco referats I) to dron.vn the Tieiv horn infants y to
DROWN THEM ! V\ This was adually done under military efcort. A ferjeant and party of foldlers accompanied the murderers, and proteifled them from the peafants. Count Soden did not fee any of thefe facrlfices with his own eyes, but he faw two of the innocent vi<5lims, and he heard feveral of thefe accounts in away that he could not doubt of their truth. In particular, he faw a clergy- man, at a village about 1 2 Englifh mJles from Nurem- burg, who being alfo a magiflrate, attempted to hinder the perpetration of the horrid deed. The foldiers threw him into the river, and fired fome fhots at him and at thofe who faved him. He was fo fortunate as to fave the little innocent, and took it to his houfe and provided a nurfe for it. The mother went away next day, with the reft of the party, but ftaid feven weeks at a little town five miles off, and in all that time, never once fent to inquire whether this iffue of her own blood was dead or alive. All this is publiflied by Count Soden, and his name afExed as a voucher for the truth of it. I defy the annals of human debafement to match this."
* See Barlow's Letter, March i, 1798, t Harper's Addrefs of March 2, 1799.
2 28 T roofs of the Exiftence
redations on our commerce, condemned by a moil refpedable member of their legillature, as equally inconfiftent with good faith, and found policy ?*
Not admitting the above as the foundation, of their attachment to France, her partlfans will probably rather recur to their ufual plea, which, however deflitute of fubftance, has a more reputable afped, viz. gratitude, yes gratitude^ never to be cancelled, for her af- forded protection. It is no fmall trial of pa- tience to be compelled to anfwer pleas, which have no foundation in reafon, nor even in the mind of the perfon who makes them ; and which are brought forward merely to conceal lefs honorable fentiments. It is very eafy to anfwer in the prefent cafe, that if gratitude is Hill due for ailiftance, for which the ftipu- lated price has been paid in full, and which was afforded, as every one muft be fenfible, and as the National AlTembly have acknowledged, not from a regard to the interefts of republican ifm, but from oppofition to England, this gratitude is due to the ancient, and not tc the prefent government of France ; and ought to lead us to deplore the fate of an unhappy king, and not to attach us to thofe who, with
'* Piilloret's motion in the Council of 500, 1797- /
and EffeHs of Illuminifnu 229
'circumftances of needlefs and unfeeling cruelty, •have deprived him of his crown and life.*
^ Or will they juilify their partiality for France by the plea, that it is a fifter republic ; the land of liberty ? It is ftyled, indeed, a re- public, but in reality, a more defpotic govern- ment does not exift in Europe. From the be- ginning of the revolution the people have been the dupes of fucceinve factious leaders, who have milled one part by falfe reprefentations, and drove the other by terror into a compli- ance with their ambitious views. But now, their government is in theory, as well as prac- tice, defpotic. However favorable to the nat- ural rights of men, we may believe the feveral conftitutions fucceffively adopted in the years ^79^5 1793? ^^<^ 17955 to have been, the pref- ent leaves the people but a very faint fem- blance of reprefentation or legiflative power.
u
* Among many Inftances m confirmation of this fa<f^3 k is fufEcient to obferve, « that the head of the princefs Lamballe was hoifted on a pike, and carried before the temple where the royal family were imprifoned, and they were called to the window to fee it. A f linting fit, from hearing of the event, fortunately faved the queen from the heart-rending fight." See Moore^s and Clery's Journals.
^T^o Proofs of the Exijlence
Are we not then warranted in prefuming, that, among the more enlightened citizens, at leaft, the real grounds of attachment to France, are different from the oftenfible ones ?
ad. To what other caufe, than the one here fuggefted, can we afcribe that oppofition to all the'^leading meafures of the late adminiftra- tion, which has been uniformly maintained^ by thofe identical perfons, who have manifeft- ed fuch a ftrange prediledion for French pol- itics ? The notoriety of this oppofition, ren- ders it unneceffary to adduce any proofs of its exiflence. That our rulers have committed errors, is prefumable. They were human be- ings, and had to explore a new, and untried pa^h, amidft innumerable difficuUies, without the ufeful aid of precedent and experience. But were thofe errors fuch as afforded any juft pretext for the perpetual clamors, the factions, 'cabals, and infurreclions, with which they have been oppofed, and impeded? What- ever may have been their errors, the refult of their meafures has been the eftablifliment of peace with the nations of Europe ; peace with ihe Indians upon the principles of humanity^ and with profpecTs of permanency; the prefer- vation of our neutrality againft artful and vio- Jent attempts to involve lis in European coiv
ami Effeds of lllumhiipu 23^
tfcntions ; the confolidation of our feeble union, and the refioration of that vigor and enero-y which were ahuoft exhaufled. Our deranged finances have been reduced to a reg- ular fyftem, and a revenue raifed, which, though fcarcely perceived in its operation, has been adequate to the fupport of government, has anfwered many extraordinary demands, and effected a confide r able reduction of the public debt. To the fame judicious fyftem, are we indebted for the exiftence of a Navy^- which has enabled us to repel many wanton encroachments on our neutral rights, and been the principal means of our prefent com- mercial profperity. Favorable arrangements were alfo made for the recovery of our prop- erty from the hands of fpoilers y and that this proviiion has not been more complete has probably^been owing to the belief which the French government entertained of their influ- ence in the United States. With great juft- nefs, Prelident Jefferson announced, in his inaugural fpeech, that our government, at the clofe of our late admin iftration, Vv'as " in the full tide oi fuccefsful experiment,'^
I fiiall not attempt a further juftification of thofe meafures which have been fo feverely cenfured. Ail who have witneffed the diiEcul-
c;32 Proofs of ihe Exiftcnce
ties from which we have been extricated; an(f iheprofperity which has refulted to all claiTes: cf citizens, from the meafures which have been adopted and purfued, in the two hte adminiftrations, and yet remain unfatisfied, as to their wifdom, I can have no hope of convincing by any arguments I can ufe. It ought, however, to be remarked, that thefe meafures were adopted by Vv^ashington and Adams, and warmly recommended by them, as indifpeniible to the peace and profperity of the United States, and the perpetuity of their union and independence. We may probably iooTi be called to witnefs the efFeds of a de- parture from their falutaryfyftem.
To what caufe then are we to attribute the oppoiition Vv^hich has been made to fuch men, andfuch'meafures ; men, who have given the moll unequivocal proofs of a v/if::, patriotic, and faithful adherence to the principles of ra- tional liberty, and the interefts of America, through fcenes which try men's principles \ meafures, wliich have procured to this coun- try, refpedabiiity abroad, and profperity and flrength at home ? The nature and fyilematic operations of this oppofition appear perfectly unaccountable and myfterious, unlefs we recur to iovcizfecret influence. This influence, mov-
and Effeds of Illammi/m. 233
ing many hidden fprings, produces tliofe uni- form efFeds which ^re vifible in all parts of our country. And this conclufionr forces itfeU" upon our minds when we recoiled, that the clafs of men who raife this outcry, and who- are fo extremely jealous of any encroachments on the privileges of mankind, are the very perfons who juftify all the extravagant and tyrannical proceedings of the French govern-^ ment ; not excepting that arbitrary ad of the diredory. In 1797, which drove into baniih- ment, without the form of a trial, fome of the bed: of her legiilators, and the mofl worthy of her citizens, -
3d. Wlience is it, that this jealous concei*n for the liberties of America, this nice fenfe of the rights of man, (to which is afcribed the oppofition to government) originated in the fouthern States, is ftill moil prevalent there, and is thence communicated to the eaftern States ? I certainly have no difpofition to fo- ment a fpirit of divifion, nor would I fugged an idea detrading from the refped due to many fouthern gentlemen, whofe fortunes have been devoted to the purfuits, not of. pleafure, but of the liberal arts, and who have become bleffings and ornaments to their coun-- try J but; as an oppofition in principles is-^ ¥3
234 Proofs of the Exyhnce
known to exift, it becomes neceiTaryjin order to acquire juft notions of liberty, that the origin and tendency of thefe principles fliould be freely difcuffed. Some obfervations on the fubjecl'are evidently of importance in the prefent inquiry. I muft, therefore, take the liberty of aiking, if the principles, which have attached many*of the citizens of the United States to France, and rendered them oppofed to the leading meafures adopted by Wash- ington and Adams, flov/ from an enlightened fpirit of freedom, whence is it, that thefe fen- timents are found, originally, and principally, in the fouthern part of the Union ?
Are the habits and manners of the people there, more congenial to the fpirit of genuine republicanifm ? or are the citizens generally better informed ? Do they acquire this pa- triotic fpirit in their eleclive afTemblies, where, we have been informed, by one of their own legiflators, that bludgeons are fubftituted for proxies, and the arguments of the citizens acquire weight in proportion to their bodily ilrength and activity ? In drawing the por- trait of a true republican, would you reprefent him with one hand contending for the rights of man, and with the other holding a fcourge over his trembling ilaves ?
md Effe^s of llluminlfnu 2 3 5*
It has been fuppofed of the firft importance in republican governments, that the lower claffes of the people be well informed ; that youth be taught to fubjed their paiHons to the didates of reafon and duty, and be early trained to habits of virtue, induftry, and economy. But if, as has been reprefented. New England be the " La Vendee of America," and its inhabitants ariftocrats, until they are politically regenerated by the fouthern ftates, the above principles of education muft be renounced as erri)neous, and the race ground, and the gaming table, acknovv4edged the bed fc-hool for the education of republicans.
Here newparadoxesoccur-^andparadoxes they remain till we recollect, that Illuminifm firft dawned upon the fouthern ftates ; that they formed the principal refort for European emigrants, and there only, we difcover the lodges which derive their origin from the Grand Orient^ at Paris. Have we, then, no grounds to conclude that thefe outrageous pretenders to liberty, who " difpife govern- ment, and are not afraid to fpeak evil of dignities," are the genuine offspring of that fedt, which v/e have feen alike oppofed to the reftraints of religion, and the laws of fociety ?
23^ unroofs of the Exijlence^
Why do we hear, from the fame quarter, the clergy of New England reprefented, not only as ufelefs, but a pabUc nuifance.* I lliall not undertake the defence of this order of men, nor attempt a refutation of the various, and very indefinite charges brought againfl. them. The people of New England are acquainted with their clergy, and can judge for themfelves, v/hether or not they are jullly cenfured. One charge, however, as it is more frequently ailed ged, and refpecls their fecret intentions, and therefore not fo eaiily refuted, demands more particular attention. The charge to which I refer, is, in fubflance.. this, that they are unfriendly to the political interefts of their country, and the principles of the American revolution. Is this a fa6l ? If it be proved, I prefume it mufl be by the fame kind of logic, by which thofe who bring the charge, attempt to prove that Washing- ton Was bhnd to the interefts of his country ; ; Adams, a monarchift ; and the citizens of New England, ariftocrats. But let us attend to fads.
* In proof of the fa(5l here Intimated, T beg leave to refer the reader to thofe newfpapers in which Wafhington's fyftem of politics is condemned, an<i the meafures of France advocated in the grofs.
and Effe8s cf llluiimiifnu 23/
It Is a matter of public notoriety, that at the time of the American revolution, no clafs of men were more united, or more aclive in their efforts to ^promote that caufe. Their public performances afford, alfo, abundant proofs of their warm attachment to the French revolution, until it became evident that the caufe in v/hich France had embarked, was the caufe of licentioufnefs, oppreilion, and atheifm. Have then thefe men in a body relinquilhed that fyftem of political faith, which, at that period, they fo fervently embraced ? To what probable caufe, can fuch a general revolution of fentiment be attributed ?
Their accufers will not probably afcrlbe it to their ignorance, for they likewife accufe them of meddling too much with politics ; it is therefore prefumable that they have, at leaft, acquired political information.
Will it be faid that the profpecls of ambition hive led them aftray ? This would be a very uncharitable fuppofition indeed \ for although \ they are rnen of like pajjions with others, they are not, in all cafes, expofed to like tempta- tions. Excluded, by their profefTion, from pods of worldly honor and profit, they are merely fpedators of the contentions o£
238 F roofs of the Exiflcnce
ambition. Unlefs they are influenced by a patriotic concern for their countrymen, they liave no connexion with government, other than tq fecure for themfelves the blefUngs of freedom, and to tranfmit the precious inher- itance to their pofterity. In hafte to deprive them of public confidence, their accufers have' induflrioully, and indifcriminately applied ta the clergy here, the charges brought againft. the order in Europe. But what fimilarity in^ lituation is there between the cardinals,? biihops, and lords fpiritual, of the European, hierarchies, and an American clergyman ,, who, by the fcantinefs of his fupport is com- pelled to the mofl rigid economy, and often to labor w^ith his own hands, to obtain a decent fupport for his dependants \ and inftead of the profpect of preferment, muib confider himfelf fortunate if he be not difpof-- feffed of his oifice, and fubjecled to the inconveniences of a removal ?
Their poverty, indeed, expofes them to temptations, in point of property, ihould fuck temptations prefent ; but it is fortunate, with refped to this charge, that the public meafures to which they have confcientioully given their fupport, have been unfavorable to their private inter ells. The duties of impojfts and ex»
and Effects of liluminifnu 239
clfc, which are taken from the confumer, and the eflabhfliment of banks, which has operated greatly to ^advance the price of every article of Ufe, have reduced their means of fubfifl- ence. This has been fo obvious, that their parifliioners, in general, have felt themfelves bound in juftice to increafe the nominal fum, to preferve the original value of their ftipends. The clergy, alone, are excluded a fliare in the increarmg wealth of their country ; and were they governed by felfifh motives, merely, would be the firft to oppofe, rather than the firft to defend the adminiftration.
But it has alfo been fuggefled, that, in
^fpoufmg this caufe, they have meanly courted
the favor of the majority. For an anfwer to
.this charge, fads declare tlie truth ; for it is
a known fad, that many of the clergy have
.nobly maintained their fentiments,and warned
their hearers of their danger, at the hazard
of their difpleafure, and of offending par-
ticular gentlemen of influence. The author
in particular, pleafes himfelf, that he, at leaft,
.{hall efcape the charge of a time-ferver, as he
is weekly notified, through the medium of the
Worcefter Gazette, by one high in office, that
,the caufe he here advocates, is faft finking
■CiO
F roofs of the Exifiena
into contempt ; and that he ah'eady forefees the "downfall of Federal Clergymen.*'
The above obfervations are not fo much defigned to vindicate the clerical order, as to deveiope the real defigns of their calumniators. Thefe accufations appear as groundlefs as the attachment of their authors to French politics. It is to be prefumed that they are not the real caufes of the prefent oppofition to the clergy of New England. No ; their attachment "to order, the refiftance they make to the progrefs of philofophifm, their exertions in defence of Chriftianity, and their attempts to imprefs its important, but unv/elcome truths, on man- kind, conilitute their real crime, in the judg- ment of their accufers. Political opinions prove a convenient cover for fchemes not yet ripe for execution. Were the enemies of religion among us to come forward unmafked, and avow their real defigns, it would be demonilrative proof that they had apoftatized from the principles of their mafler ; but the difciples of Voltaire and Weifhaupt are true to their favorite maxims, " to bind men with invifibk bands. To ftrike, but hide the hand."
We accordingly fmd thofe who are endeav- oring to deprive the clergy of ail public
and EfftBs of lUumlnlfm. 241
confidence, abounding in what D*Alembert calls " hozvs to religion'' Religion is carefully fpoken of with high refpccl, in thofe publica- tions which denounce the body of the clergy as hoflile to the interefls of their country. '* They inufl: be gained or ruined/* the reader will recoiled, is a prime maxim of the order ; but finding that the clergy of New England will not be induced to betray their religion and country, and conilgn themfelvcs and their pofiierity to infamy and wretchednefs, they are unceafingly reprefented,as attempting •to fubvert thofe eftabliiliments to which they have invariably given their fupport, and to annex to their office the honors and emolu- ments which are peculiar to the corrupt religious eilablifhments in Europe.
That friends to order and religion, by a feries of mifreprefentations, are led to give their fupport to fyftems, w^hich, if free from deception, they would deteft, is not to be doubted \ but the mian who approves the principles on which the French revolution has been conducted, and is pleafed wath that Hberty and independence, which have received the fanclion of the National AiTembly, cannot but wifli for the abolition of the Chrlftiau faith, and whatever gives it fupport, w
C42 Proofs of the Exiftence
The reader will remark, that the fame evidence wliich proves that Illuminifm, or French influence, (for one involves the other) has exiiled in America, proves that it now exiils among us. The fimilarity of the effect, indicates the famenefs of the canfe. In 1794, we find Fauchet fketching the grievances Vv^hlch excited the weilern infurreclion. In 1797, appeared the focieties of United Irifli- men. In the fame year, the American Envoys were allured, *' That it was in -vain for them to think of uniting their countrymicn againft France, by expofing the unreafonabienefs of their demands. You ought to know," they are told, " that the diplomatic fkill of France, and the mea7is fhe poffejfcs in your country^ are fuilicient to enable her, with the French party in America^ to throw the blame which will attend the rupture of the negociations, on the federalifts ; and you may afl'ure yourfelves this will be done."*^
At the fame period, Mr. Pinckney was told \y^ another Frvench negociator, ''we know we have a very confiderable party in America, who are flrongly in our interefls."t Has this
* Dirpatches from Arnerlcan Envoys, publiihed by die Secretary of State, No. 2.
t Ibid. Exhibit A. No. 4.
and Effe8s of Illuminijm. 243
*' French party in America," this ^^ very con- fiderable party," on which the Directory placed fo much dependance in* 1797, became entirely extindl ? Have they been in no degree active, iince that period, to excite jealoufies, foment divihons, alienate the citi- zens from their beft friends, to diffeminate the principles of infidel philofophy, and over- turn the ancient happy ellabiifhments of our country ?
If, in their attempts to deprive us of our religion, they have not , obtained an equally decided vidory^ zeal has not been wanting, nor has their fuccefs been inconiiderable. The principal bulwarks are yet fafe. Our bibles are not configned to the flames ; nor our places of worfhip devoted to idolatry, and pagan rites. The Chriftian fabbatli, although treated v/ith practical contempt by fome who ought to give it their firm and decided fupport, is not yet abolifhed by law. But many of the outworks are in the power of the enemy, and they are daily making, regular and alarming approaches*
It is not my intention, by the foregoing ob- fervations, to implicate all thcfe who err in their political opinions, as engaged in the con»
244 T roofs of the Exifience
fplracy agalnfl Chriftianity, and focial order. This is far from being the cafe ; yet I have no doubt that many perfons, who are iincere friends to religion, their country, and man- Idnd, are led, by a feries of mifreprefentations, to give their fupport to fyftems, which, if feen m their true nature and tendency, would ex- cite their abhorrence. It is, indeed, aftonifli- ing that good characlers, real friends to Chrifl- ianity, ihould be fo eaiily filled with fufpicion iind jealoufy tov/ards men of eftabliilied char- acier, for piety, talents, and patriotifm, and drav/n in to aid the enemies of their religion, and their country ; and this too, by perfons, whofe moral and religious characters they cannot but hold in abhorrence ; but Weifhaupt him- felf wondered at the fuccefs of his own policy, and in his confidential epiftles, often exclaims, "' What cannot men be made to believe."
Perfuaded that many are unwarily led to advocate a caufe which militates againft the beft interefls of their country, thefe hiftorical iketches, and articles of evidence, have been coUefled for their benefit 5 and with the fame Ixiendly delign their calm and unprejudiced attention is recjueiled to the contents of the following
and EffcSls of lllummfm, 245
ADDRESS.
Friends^ and Fellow Citizens,
I AM very fenfible that the difcerning eye wiil diicover many <lefecls in the foregoing flate- ment, but they are errors of the head, not of the heart. There is not a circumftance inten- tionally mifreprefented, nor a fentiment ex- preiied, which is not the refult of conviclion. I am aware that fome from policy, and others from fentiment, will be difpofed to treat thefe apprehenlions as chimerical ; but to m.e they are real. In my view, alarming dangers^ hang over my country, and even now the lurking foe is preparing an expiofion, which, unlefs prevented, will level her riling glories with the duft. PolTeiTmg thefe fentiments, neither duty nor patriotifm would fufFer me to decline a fervice, however ungrateful, which afforded fome profpect of aiding a caufe to which I feel myfelf conneded by the flrong- eft ties of affection. Your country, is my country ; here I have a family, dear to me, and friends, whofe fortune, -with my own, is connected with that of America. Can I then fee her dangers, and be filent ?
w 2
-4^ Proofs of the Exijlence
Warmly has my heart entered into the pleaf- xng' profpecls which have dawned upon the land of my nativity, nor will I yet defpair of her falvation, confiding in thatiielping hand, which has been her guide in darknefs, and her iliield in danger. NumiCrous and powerful ftlll are her friends, could they be roufed to exertion ; and exertion there muft be, or our ruin is inevitable. If propitious heaven has decreed falvation for our country, means will be found to dlfpel the facinating charm which is now drawing her into the ravenous jaws of iier dcvourer. She will be enabled to diftin- guiih real from pretended friends. While we are fupine and indolent, refting in the good- nefs of our cauie, and fondly hearkening to thofe wlio cry peace and fafety, the enemies of our peace, of our independence, of our re- ligion, are alert and refllefs. It is painful and alarming to hear v/orthy citizens applauding tbemfelves for the fligacious difcovery, that the com motions of the day are merely agitations excited by contending candidates ; that we are all aiming, 'n different ways, at the fame objed; *' that v/e are all federalifts, all rcpubhcans." Tlicfe fentiments, induftrioufly propagated by lliofe who wIOi to lull us into fecurity, unfor- tunately accord with that love of eafe, fo un- happily prcvalc::t in cur moft important concern?,
and EffeBs of lllummfm. 247
Under a like paralytic ftupor, the efi'ccl of French intrigue, and modern illumination, the Helvetic republic fell a prey to her treach- erous invaders. " The inhabitants feemed fearful of being roufed from their indiffer- ence, and were offended at prediclions meant to put them on their guard. Woe to him who difturbed the general quiet by peevifli reafoning on the future, and on the danger of connections in which they were fmking deeper and deeper ! The majority of the Swiis were like thofe patients who are angry with the phyfician for defcribing their diforder to them."* " We come among you as friends. We are your brothers. Do not be afraid of any ill treatment. Property and perfons Ihall be protected, as much as the enemies of liberty fhall be made to fuffer."! This was the language of Mengaud, commiffioner of the Executive Directory, in his proclamation, pre- faced with "Peace and fafety to all his friends." The too credulous Swifs greedily drank the lufcious poifon ♦, they believed that the Direc-
* Mallet Dii Pan's Deftruaion of the Helvetic Rep ub- Iic,Boftonedit. 1799. p. 108. A book that ought now to be read by every American,
f Ibid. p. 256.
S48 Proofs of the Extjlmce
tory were, what they pretended to be, friends to freedom, and the rights of man. They even baniflied their faithful monitor, when he endeavored to awaken them to a fenfe of their danger. But " imprifon?ne?its, infults^ rapes ^ requi- ftiions^ and rapine of all kinds, fignalized the arrival of thefe flrangers, whom Meiigaud had but juft announced to their vidims as brothers and friends,'^*
Confide not, my countrymen, in an imagin^ ary power to refill the fubtle invaders, when once they have bound your hands with.invifi- ble bands. Your enemies themfelves have forewarned you, " that an army of principles will prevail, where an army o^foldiers cannot."! When they have fuiiiciently corrupted your morals,philofophized your religion, overturned your ancient eftabliihments, and diffeminated their diforganizing principles among you, then will they rife upon their prey, and add America to the lift of ''• fleeced'' republics.
Mallet Du Pan, defcribing the iituation of Switzerland, previous to the late revolution
* Mallet Du Fan's Deflruaion of Helvetic Republic, p. 147.
t Thomas Paine,
and Effcds of Illuminipm 249
there, obferves, " There was no State in Eu- rope fo fecure from the contagion of French principles ; every thing was an antidote to this peftilence : The flow and phlegmatic charader of the inhabitants, their rooted and powerful habits, the experience of a govern- ment adapted to their difpohtions j and, in fine, the foundnefs of their judgments, which guarded them againfl the feduClions. of the pen, and of the tongue.'' If fuch examples will not teach, nor fuch warnings alarm us, our ruin is not far diflant..
It is a falfe and dangerous fentiment that " monarchies alone have caufe to dread the revolutionizing fpirit of the times )" for it is obvious that republics are the theatres on which political mountebanks moft fuccefsfully exhibit their diforganizing feats. Where, as in fuch governments, popular eleclions are fre- quent, and the poifon which iniecls a diftant member, is inftantly conveyed to the vitals. When an individual is gained, a lodgement is made in the government, of which that indi- vidual forms a part, either in perfon, or by his agent ; and his influence is inflantaneoufly felt. In monarchical governments it is very different. The difeafe, which there pervades the external parts, but very remotely afteds
250 Proofs of the Exijlence
the vital, adive powers of government. Kow feeble the imprelTion which France was able to make upon England, compared with the Ihock which the republics of Europe received from her revolutionary agents ? The combina* tion of United Irlfmnen^ and fimilar focieties in England and Scotland, produced no vifible al- teration in the Britiili government 5 but had it been fimilar to the American, a complete revolution muH have been the confequence.
The fame caufe which renders republics more accefilble to thefe evils, proportion ably prevents their fuppreffion j for thofe danger- ous perfons form dlreclly or indirectly, that very power on which fociety depends to expel. the foe ; and hence, the government, in this refped, is reduced to a nulity. Nor is a large number of confpirators necelTary to raife obftruclions and impede the govern- ment \ for in every fociety thefe perfons fmd many natural allies, ever ready to join their forces. Such are difappointed candidates, who are commonly willing rather to impede and perplex, than to affiil their more fuccefsful competitors ; fuch are thofe, and they are not a fmail party, who, from a natural jealoufy of their rulers, are prepared to credit every unfavorable intimation concerning them.
and Effeds of Illuminlfm. 251
however improbable or abfurd. Such, in fine, are thofe felfifh beings, whom no confid- erations of public good v/ill induce to ad with any vigor : Thefe, if they do not appear in dired oppofition to government, are fo many clogs and impediments to its vigilance and adivity. Thefe plain obfervations are intro- duced to awaken you, my countrymen, to that virtuous watchfulnefs and firmnefs, neceiTary to preferve a free government, and to put you upon your guard againfl the diforganizing arts of thofe, Vv^ho, under whatever pretext, are endeavoring to over- turn the fyftems and eftablilliments which experience has taught you are ufeful.
Do you afk, what is to be done ? As un« common abilities and penetration are lefs ufeful in a fearch after happinefs, than upright intentions and' an honeft heart, I fliall attempt an anfwer to the fuggefted inquiry. The ingredients of mental and focial happi- nefs, like the necelTaries of life, confift in fimples,^ and are eaiily obtained. When the theorizing geniufes of the day have invented a better medium of refpiration than the vital air, or a bodily aliment preferable to that which nature provides, then v/ill they merit a hearing, while they promife us a Utopia in
252 F roofs of the Exifunce
the regions of infidelity, and quiet repcfe on the billows of a revolution. But if you wifti for that kind of order and quietnefs, for which our favored land has been diftinguifh- ed, the following direclions point out a plain and fafe path.
7. Attend to the education of your children, and let it be your principal care to iir.prefs their minds with religious and moral truth. Much has been faid, and much miOre might be pertinently faid, upon the import- ance of education. Tlie youthful mind is a field prepared for the reception of precious feed ; but if neglected, will foon be overfpread w4th every poifonous growth. I am con- vinced that faiihful endeavors to inftil the principles of virtue and religion into the minds of youth, is attended with a much greater probability of fuccefs than is ufually imagined. It is undeniable, that early im- preffions, w:hich have appeared to be entirely erafed by the influence of ftrong paffions and peculiar temptations, have furvived the Ihock, and produced the happieil effecls. Even where this is not attained, early habits of regularity, decency, and induftry, are not of fmail importance in fociety, nor are they eaiily loft. The impreflions made by fuch an educa-
and Effcds of Ilhtmlnifm, 253
tion have evidently had a great effecl in preventing the influence of the diforganizing principles of the day, in the New England ftates.
A religious education was formerly repro- bated by infidels, under the pretence that it gave a bias to the mind before the judgment was matured ; but they themfelves , have removed this objection ; they are not afliamed to make it a maxim in their code, to feize the young, untutored mind, and infufe into the unlufpe^Sling heart the poifon of atheifm. Learn from your enemies the importance of early imprelTions, and while they are attempt- ing to difleminate the feeds of infidelity, let it be your watchful care to introduce the vigorous plants of piety and virtue. Furnifh their minds with ufeful knowledge j teacli them the true dignity of man ; read to them the lelTons of experience, habituate them to felf government, the regulation of their paflions, and a ready fubmiflion to needful reftraints. Attend to their books, and exclude the numerous publications which are either fecretly, or avowedly, defigned to propagate the immoral and irreligious fpirit of the times \ or, if this is not pradicable, let them not be without the antidote furniflied in
X
254 proofs of the Exiflence
many late able replies to the pleas of infidelity. We deny our profeffion as Chrilllans, if it is not our fiirft concern, in the education of our children, to imprefs their minds with the fear of God ; to eftablifh them in the princi- ples of natural and revealed religion, and the evidences of the Chriftian faith.
The talk of forming the youthful miind, at all times one of the moil important duties in fociety, acquires, in prefent circumftances, an increafed demand on our attention. Religion, fociety, parental affection, unite in the demand. It would be happy, if prefent dan- gers fliould prove the means of awakening the attention of the Chriftian world, to a fubjed fo deplorably neglecied.
It is fervently to be hoped, in particular, that our Colleges, and other literary inftitu- tions, wall be preferved from contamination. Thefe are principal obje^ls in the view of the modern enemies of mankind. In obferving the weaknelfes of human nature, they have difcovered, that a youth of genius, thirfting for literary fame, whofe education was un- finiflied, and his judgment immatured, was precifely in a fituation to be impreifed with ^thc fafcinating charms of Illuminifm, and
itnd EffcHs of lUumimfm. 255-
prepared to exchange his underftanding and eonfcience, for the flattering title of a philofo- pher. Much depends, at this day, upon the gaurdians of our public feminaries, and much we expect from their fidelity and zeal, in preferving thefe public fountains from im-* purities.
2. Support thofe inftitutions of your an- ceftors, which you have feen crowned with- peace, glory, and happinefs. When will mankind receive the inftruction fo forcibly impreffed by univerfal hiftory, by daily obfer- vatioh, and the word of God, that " Righteoitf- nefs alonee xalteth a nation ?'' That rank atheifm is deftrudive to fociety, receives a ready aflent from thofe who appear infeniible of what is equally true, that a departure from the habits and principles of ilri(5t virtue and religion, is an approximation to atheifm, and a departure from the only folid foundation of focial order and peace. They forget that it is religion, not in theory, but in practice, which confti- tutes the happinefs of an individual, and of a nation.
Men who derive their importance from fliowy accomplifhments, and the gewgaws of life, look with contempt upon the limple man-
2^6 Proofs of the Exijience
ners of cur venerable anceflers j but whatever advancements we have made in uieful dif- coverics and the elegant arts of life, juftice requires that we afcribe to their virtues our moil precious bleffings. In a ftrid attention to family government, in early habits of in- duftry, in a fmcerity, iim.plicity and temper- ance of m^anners, and in the civil, literary, and religious eftablifhments of our country, they laid the foundations of what remians of glory and ftrength in the American edifice. We do not afcribe to them perfection. Human nature will be attended with the charaderillics of weaknefs. In them, a zeal for the trutli degenerated into a degree of intolerance ; but have not we rufhed with violence into the oppofite and more dangerous extreme ? The narrow path of virtue is flretched to an almoft unbounded width ; and in thefe days of catholicifm, the idea that infidelity dif- qualiiies for public offices, or even for future happinefs,is condemned as a fpecies of bigotry. It is eafy to perceive that fuch a relaxation of moral and religious principles is, in its effecls, a near approach to atheifin. The checks neceffary to redrain the ftrong corruptions of the heart are taken away, and thefe corrup- tions, as they gain ftrength, gradually under- mine, and, in their progrefs, will demoliih the flrongeft bulwarks of fociety.
and Effeds of lllumlmfiiu 2^^
When an individual loofes his habits of induftry, acquires a relifti for expenfivc living, and feeks in fcenes of dilTipation that fatisfac- tion which he no longer finds in the fober pleafures of life, we forefee his ruin, and withdraw our confidence ; and can a fociety compofed of fuch individuals, be long prof- perous and happy ? No ; the ruin is more inevitable in the latter cafe, than in the for- mer 5 for a profligate individual may be con- troled, perhaps reformed, by his fober neigh- bors, but when vicious manners become prevalent in fociety, a current is opened which defies all reiiraint, and carries along w4th it, many who nobly attempt to refill its inipulfe.
I am painfully confcious that the puritanic iimplicity of our anceftors, will rather excite a fneer of contempt, than a defire of imita- tion in this felf-important age. Enjoying the full tide of profperity, moderation, temper- ance, and the refi;raints of religion, are un- w^elcome themes : But this, my countrymen, is the alternative eftabliflied in the high unal» terable decrees of Heaven, if we participate the vices which have wrought the ruin of ether nations, we mufc alfo partake oi their ' flagucs I
X 2 -
253 Proofs of the Exifeme
It will doubtlefs be underHood tliat thefe obfervatlons are not deligned to recommend any particular uncouihnefs of manners, which the cuiloms of the age, or their peculiar cir- cumflances produced. The value of a gem is not diminiflied by a polifhed furface. What principally demands our attention and imita- tion in our wortliy progenitors is, their love of religion, and their ftricl praclical regard to its duties, producing undifguifed fmcerity, and genuine patriotifm. Religion gave d> reclion, vig-or, and ac1:ivitv to all their meaf- ures. Religion firft generated, and that alone can preferve^ the glory of America.
Guard this treafure with peculiar care. Here let it be remembered, the efforts of your enemies are fecretly, but powerfully directed ; and never will they feel their victory con> plete until, as they themfelves exprefs their hope, " Chr^ftianlty is thrown info the back grmnd,^^ To this objecl they are equally prompted by their enmity to the holy nature of this religion, and by a defire to extend their influence over the mind ; for they can- not be infenfible, that v/hile virtue exifls in the world, their fyftem muft meet oppofition*
But what are the confiderations by which thcfe m^n would induce u§ to renounce a
Cfid Ejfetls of lllumlntfriU 259
religion, of tlic authenticity and benign In- fluence of which, we have fuch convincing proofs ? Modern infidels appear to have placed their principal dependance on the artl-^ cles, pricjl craft and prejudice.
Under the firfl^ they paint, in gl owning colors, the pride, ambition, and opprefiions of the papal hierarchy, and of the higher or- ders in other religious eflablifliments. That the emoluments, injudicioufly annexed to the clerical office in many parts of Europe, fhould induce men, deftitute of religion, to aflume the facerdotal characrer, is perfedly agreeable to the known principles of human nature ; and that fuch m^en, w^hen in office, Ihould difregard their folemn engagement?, is very probable ; but the conclufion thefe modern reafoners deduce from, tliefe premiife?, viz. That the Chriftian religion is a fyilem of prieftcraft, is^not fo clear. If, by afcrlbing religion to prieftcraft they, mean, that thefe wicked prieils invented the religion taught in the gofpel, the abfurdity of the idea, muil be apparent to every perfon acquainted with its holy, humble dodrines. It could not be crafty but the higheft degree of fiupidity, in fuch men to invent a religion, which, in the flrongeil terms, condemns their ambition, and holds them up to mankind as impoflors,
2 6o Proofs of the Exlftenc^
If they mean, that the mifconduft of fome of its miniilers and profelTors proves that Chriftianity is a fable, the inference is equally erroneous ; for is it evident, that if revelation be true, hypocrify v/ould have had no exift- ence, or that ambitious men would not make religion a ftepping ftone to preferment ? Yet until it fliall be proved that wicked men would not thus pervert a true religion, this pcrverfion of Chriftianity, is no argument againft its divinity. Is gold lefs valuable be- caufe it has been counterfeited ; or, becaufe Thomas Paine pretends torcafon, is reafon a ufelefs faculty ? If your bibles countenance hypocrify, pride, and oppreilion, they are unworthy your regard; but while they in=. culcate nothing but v/hat is virtuous and praife worthy, bind them to your hearts, faithfully follow the diredions they give, and they will lead you to fafety and happinefs.
Another inftance of modern fophiftry is, tc refolve religion into prejudice, and conftantly ufe thefe term.s as fynonymous. This is a moft popular ftroke. It is infallible with men of weak minds, who would be thought />Zv7^ ophers. The very found of vulgar prejudices frightens them out of that pittance of judg- ment which was theirs by original inheritance.
and Effeds of lllumhnfnu 261
But is this a fa6l, that mankind are bialTed in favor of do'ftrines which (land oppofcd to all the ftrong, leading pailions of the heart ? Uni- verfal obfervation teaches, that we are apt to be prepoilciTed in favor of what we wifh to be true ; but the modern dodrine of preju- dices, contradicts this obfervation : it reprc- fents mankind as unaccountably difpofed to believe, in oppoiition to the didates of reafon, and the impuife of inclination.
That Voltaire, after writing forty volumes againftChri{lianity,and fpending feventy years in attempting to " cn^Jh the wretch^'' fliould be tormented by prejudices in favor of relig- ion, may appear credible to thofe who " be- lieve in all unbelief ;" but in this, and many limilar inftances, every unbiaiTed mind will fee a fuperior power impreiung the foul with an irrefiftible confcioufnefs of Almighty juflice.
Not the arguments in fupport of Chriftian- ity, but thofe of an oppofite nature ow^e their influence to the power of prejudice. Thefe deceivers are not unmindful of the oppoiition of the heart to the reftraints of relisfion. On this principle, corruption of morals becomes an important part of their fyflem. They ftudi- oufly endeavor to inflame the paflions o£
262- Proofs of the Ex i/ience
men, that the obligations of duty may be- come more irkfome ; and that the caufe they wifli to fupport, may find a more powerful advocate in the heart. Infidelity owes its flrength, not to argument, but to feeling. An hundredth part of the evidence which has been produced in fupport of the truth of Chriftianity, v/ould determine every perfon's judgment, in all cafes, where the inclinations had no influence.
My countrymen, fuifer not the arts of foph- xftry, or your own paiTions, to rob you of that benign religion which was fo dear to your anceftors, which fupported them under their trials, rendered their names precious to pof- terity, and originated eilabliHiments fo happy in their efFe(5ls.
3. Confider the importance of having your public oiHces filled with men of virtue and religion. This is indeed included in the ex- ample of your anceftors y for they had the wifdom to difcern, that none but thofe who were friends to religion, were friends to fociety ; but the prefent alarming inattention to this fubje6l, recommends it to more par- ticiolar notice.
lA
and Effeds of Illuminlfm*
•263
k
fkii
m
Are magiftrates the minifters of God, and :he reprefentatives of the Supreme Ruler ? rhus Chriftians are taught to confider theirio When, therefore, a nation, nominally Chrift- ian, elect to thefe offices, men avowedly, or pradically oppofed to the Chriftian religion, is.it not a public affront to the righteous Ruler 3f the univerfe ? However cafuifts may de- termine this queftion, the afpecl, which the election of fuch men has upon the intereft of rociety, is in every refpe6l highly unfavorable. A. perfon of this defcription, may faithfully ^erve his country, or he may betray, or he nay enflave it ; what courfe he will take, de- fends n^ierely on circumftances. A regard to reputation, and what is called principles of lonor, which might have an influence in Tmaller concerns, ceafe to operate when the ligh objects of ambition are prefented to the mind. When a man of ambition comes within :he reach of fupreme power, its aLtradcion over- :omes the influence of thofe weaker motives ivhich, for a time, held him v/ithin the fphere Df duty. In thefe circumftances men of prin- ciple only, fuch as was the Jewifh Moses, and the American Washington, and Adams, will remain in their proper orbit, fuperlor to all attradion, but that of their country's good.
proofsofrealexisOOpays
ii
Adams 263 5
2378492
,990529/'^
262-
Froofs of the Exiftence
men, that the obligations of duty may be- come more irkfome ; and that the caufe they wi£h to fupport, may find a more powerful advocate in the heart. Infidelity owes itj ftrength, not to argument, but to feeling, An hundredth part of the evidence whicli has been produced in fupport of the truth o\ Chriftianity, v/ould determine every perfon's judgment, in all cafes, where the inclinatiom had no influence*
My countrymen, fuffer not the arts of foph= xftry, or your own pafTions, to rob you of that benign religion which was fo dear to your anceflors, which fupported them under their trials, rendered their names precious to pof- terity, and originated eflabliHiments fo happy in their efFe<^s,
3. Confider the importance of having your public offices filled with men of virtue and religion. This is indeed included in the ex- ample of your anceflors ; for they had the wifdom to difcern, that none but thofe who were friends to religion, were friends to fociety \ but the prefent alarming inattention to this fubjed, recommends it to more par- ticular notice.
Arec thercpr: Tliusfr to, t! bn, iA
is hot: oftki (ermiDe eleA'ft? kiety, i A petto?, ferveliii MyenH: fends 1^.
iionor, \ iinfc ' ^^ obj mind I
fcreadi tome*
cfduty, cpleoJil]
'^ %> S^od.
and Eff'eds of llluminlfm* -263
Are magiftrates the minifters of God, and the reprefentatives of the Supreme Ruler ? Thus Chrijlians are taught to confider them« When, therefore, a nation, nominally Chrift- ian, elect to thefe offices, men avowedly, or pradically oppofed to the Chriflian religion, is it not a public affront to the righteous Ruler of the univerfe ? However cafuifts may de- termine this queftion, the afpecl, which the eleclion of fuch men has upon the intereft of fociety, is in every refpe6l; highly unfavorable, A perfon of this defcription, may faithfully ferve his country, or he may betray, or he may enflave it ; what courfe he will take, de- pends n^ierely on circumftances. A regard to reputation, and what is called principles of honor, which might have an infiuence in fmaller concerns, ceafe to operate when the high objecls of ambition are prefented to the mindo When a man of ambition comes within the reach of fupreme power, its attradion over- comes the influence of thofe weaker motives which, for a time, held him v/ithin thefphere of duty. In thefe circumflances men of prin- ciple only, fuch as was the Jewifh Moses, and the American Washington, and Adams, •will remain in their proper orbit, fuperior to all attradlon, but that of their country's .^ood.
26.4 Proofs of the Exifiencc
To pretend that a man dillitute of die principles of religion, \^'ill be as likely to be faithful to the interefts of his conftituents, as one of an oppofite character, is to deny that religion tends to the good of fociety. But have the oaths of office, a belief of the being and perfeclions of God, and of a future (late of rewards and punifliments, no influence to excite men to fidelity? We know they are nothing to him who believes, " thai death is an everla/ting ficep^' but they cannot fail to operate on every mind which is not pad feelins:.
It is futile to attempt to juftify an inatten- tion to the charac1:ers of thofe we elecl to office, by pretending, that to fervc the pur- pofes of ambition, men may affume a char- acter which does not belong to them. It is not eafy for thofe who are objects of public notice, to conceal, for a long period, their ruling paffion ; and were fuitable caution ufed, it is not probable that a deception would fre- quently take place. In any event, this cannot -juftify inattention to the fubjecf. Shall we, with our eyes open, truft our deareft interefts with a knave, becaufe it is poffible we may be deceived in the man we believe to be honeft ? Our utmoft care to preferve our dwellings
andlLffeEis of llhiminifnu 265
may prove inefTe^tual, but fiiall we the}:efcrr- put fire to them ?
"When due care is taken to cied men of good principles to public offices, even li the eleclors are deceived in the man of their choice, the objecb is not wholly loll. The charader of the Supreme Ruler is duly re- fpecled ; the public fuffrage is on the fide of virtue, and virtuous men are countenanced ; 'wickednefs fuffers a public frown, and the perfon eleded, perceiving that he owed his advancement to a virtuous characrer, will be more careful to fupport fucha character ; and temptations to neglect, or betray his trufl:, will have lefs efFecl upon him ; but when in- fidelity is no bar to promotion, or Vvdien vir- tue and religion are confidered as of no im- portance in a public character, thefe reftraints are removed, and every temptation cperate^^ with full force.
When men, deflitute of the principles of religion, are raifed to important public oiHces^, the efiect muft be extremely pernicious, as it refpecls the interefts of religion in fociety. You are not now to learn what influence ex- amples, and efpecially the exam.ples of the great, have on the general flafe of manners
Y
0.66 Proofi of the EKiJlcnce
and fociety. The temper of fuch men wlH influence their manners. However they may adopt fome of the forms of piety, from a regard to appearances, their immoral and Anti^Chrifdan feelings, will give a complex- ion to their whole deportment.
I do not hefitate to fay, that the man, with whom thefe confiderations have no weivdit, is a ftranger to the nature, excellence, and im- portance of Chriilianity, and has the heart of an infidel. You will not, my countrymen, unlcfs you are fatally blinded to your own in- tercfls, fuffer the glare of abilities, or the im- pulfe of a party fpirit, to allure you to com- init the interefts of your country to men, who are enemies to thofe principles which forra the pillars of focictyp
Our inattention to the choice of public offi- cers is highly criminal. Many entirely ncglecl the right of fuffrage, while others bring for- ward the name which chance, or fome one more defigning than themfelves, prefents to i:heni. What IKould wc % of a ruler who ihe^uld make choice of his principal officers in the fame carclefs and capricious manner ? Neither an individual, nor a multitude, ought to have the difpofal of the affairs of a nation, ■>y\\o is nor, more attentive to its intcrcils.
and EffeBs of lllumimfm, 267
Greater eleclioneering zeal is not, indeed, neceflary than appears in fome parts of our country ; but it is fervently to be wiilied, that this zeal were lefs under the impulfe of party fpirit, and that calm, difpaiiionatc citi- zens would make it a more ferious ohjed to difcover, and introduce into public oiEccSj charaders, Avliofc election might promife prof- perity to their country.
4th. Beware of men, who feek to rob you of your liberties and religion, by flattering your pafiions, andby a pretended concern for your intereflsv This is not a new mode of deception, but, in common with other modes, has undergone a miodern refinem.ent. Marat, the greateft incendiary in France, Dr. Moore obferves, " addreffed the mob in the ftyle of a lover to his millrefs ; and the motto of a Journal, Vv^hich he publifhed, was " Vt redeat mlferis^ ahcat foriunafiipcrbis^^ that is, " Take tlye money from the rlch^ that it may he rejiored to the
As a guard againil the influence of ambi- tious, popular men, the Athenians provided the fentence of oilracifm. Each citizen was required to write on a bone the name of the pcrfon, in his eilimation, the mofl popular^ ;
' C S Proofs of the Exiftence
and he whofe name was found on the greatefti number of bones, was baniihed from the Commonwealth, under the idea, that he had acquired an influence dangerous to the repub* lie. However abfurd in itfeif, and cruel in its operation, this practice was, it difcovered a due fenfe of the danger arifing, in a free government, from the afcendency ambitious men may acquire, by flattering the populace,, and gaining the direction of their pailions. While there are corrupt, ambitious men, this kind of influence will exifl, and will be princi- pally found in thofe governments where its operation is moft pernicious. Not, however^ in oftracifm, but in virtuous habits, and a watchful attention to the interefts of the pub- lic, fhall we find our fafety from the arts of tliefe iniidious foes.
To confound the reputation which is the refult of faithful fervices, and approved merit, with the popularity of an impollor, is as inju- rious to the public, as to individuals. The former, is as beneficial, as the latter is deflruc- tive. A fmall degree of difcernment, duly exercifed, is generally fuflicient to detecl the infincerity of thofe who flatter but to deftroy. If I may be indulged a quotation fo unfafiiion- able, I would fay, that St. Paul has accurately
and Effects of llluminlfiiu 269
defcribed thefe deceivers ; " They zealoujly af- fect you," fays he, " but not well ; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might nffcd;thems\
The man who lives only for himfelf, while he pretends a deep concern for the interefts of fociety ; the fomenter of factions ; the feeker of offices; the corrupter of morals; the avow- ed enemy of Chrifiianity ; the man who en- deavors to irritate your mind, by reprefenting neceiiary public expenfes, as an acl of opprcf- fion, and thofe reflraints which the order of fociety requires, as tyrannical ; in fine, he wha addrelTes your pafiions, rather than your undcr- ilandingS5fuch men bear the genuine chara61er- iilics of impoftors ; and are either the deluded agents of a party, or have themfelves defigns^ which they willi to conceal, while they pro- claim themfelves the advocates of the rights^ of man. -
5th. Attend to the fources from vv^hich you derive your political information. The dif- organizers of Europe were not unmindful of the advantage to be derived to their cauf.^ from having public preiTes, and periodical publica« tions, under their diredion. There, however, a degree of caution was neceflary, and an ap- prehenfion of confequenccs gave a check to^
270 F roofs of the Exijhnce
the licentioufnefs of the prefs ; but in the United States, this medium of impoiition is, in a great meafure, unembarraffed ; and de- mands very ferious attention. Excepting the falatary reftraints impofed by the Sedition Bill^ thofe who were difpofed to foment divifions, excite jealoufies, and difunite the people from their government, have had an opportunity of incelTantly attacking the minds of the citi- zens with, the groffeft mifreprefentations.
Evils of great magnitude have already orig- inated from this fource of mifchief. Objects have been prefented to the public, under every poiTible circumftance of diftortion, and fufpi- cions excited wliich were entirely groundlefs* It is an outrage upon common fenfe to pre- tend, that there has been any adequate caufe for the clamiors and oppoHtion which have em- barraiTed the meafures of the late adminiftra- tion. Could the citizens of the United States have an impartial view of their proceedings, it is to be prefumed, that ninety-nine hun- dredths of the virtuous, enlightened part of the community, would cordially approve of what, by the influence of mifreprefentation^ many are now led to reprobate.
and EffeBs of Illuminlfnu 271
An efFeclual remedy for the abufes of the prefs has not yet been difcovered, and perhaps, in a free government, no other remedy can be conliftently reforted to, than the virtue and good fenfe of the citizens ; and this, we have reafon to fear, vi^ill be but feeble indeed. The prefent flate of the public mind is evidently calcub.ted to increafe, rather than diminiili^ the evil.
If, my countrymen, you will calmly and difpaflionately inquire after truth, means of information are not wanting. If you give no encouragement to the numerous productions of the day, which are plainly dictated by a defire, not to inform your judgments, but to inflame your pafiions, they will ceafe ; but while your minds are open to fcurrility, calumnies, and falfehoods, they will abound. A fpirit of party has given currency to many publications, from diHerent quarters, which ought never to have feen the light. Truth is more injured than aiiifted, by an alliance with pallion. Important truths are not, indeed, to be ^fupprefTed, becaufe they may irritate the enemies of truth ; but groundlefs afperfions, and needlefs provocations, fhould meet your pointed diiapprobation, if the falvation of your country is dearer than the fupport of a party*
2/2 Proofs of the Exijle nee
It is not the defign of thefe obfervations^ to diffuade you from an attention to pubiicT affairs. Your country needs, and has a right to demand, your vigorous efforts. It adds an additional fhade to the darknefs of the prefent day, that, where the ftimulus of party fpirit does not operate, there is fuch a degree of torpor and inattention to a fubjecl in .which the happinefs of millions is involved. A ncglecl of pxi^lic interefl mull be viewed as criminal in any ftate of lociety, but more efpecially where the people claim to be the fources of honor and authority. But let your exertions be given to your comitry^ not to a paj-'ty ; and being convinced that religion, morals, order, and a government of laws, are the pillars of your national profperity and- peace, let thefe have your firm and vigorous-^ fupport.
6th. Renounce the Anti-ChrlRian and ir-- rational practice of " fpeaking evil of digni- ties." " Thou ihalt not fpeak evil of the ruler of thy people," is one of thofe divine precepts which commends itfelf to every man's con- fcience by its evident propriety, and demands our attention as of prime importance to the order of fociety. It is an evil to which free governments are peculiarly expofcd j and a
aiui Effecfs of llluminifnu 273
ftrong propeniity in human nature to this evil, has given an advantage to the diforgan- izers of the prefent day, which they have not neglected.
The impradicability of fupporting the au- thority of the laws, and the energy of gov- ernment, when the executors of thofe laws, and the officers of that government, are ob- jects of conftant fcurrility and abufe, muft be obvious to every perfon of the leaft reflection* The experience we have had of this fpirit among ourielves, is furely fufficient to fatisfy us of its pernicious tendency ; and under a change of adminiftration, it is painful to fee ma- ny indulging the fame fpirit, which they have fo juftly reprobated in others. In the perfon, conititutionally inveiled with authority, we are to contemplate, not the individual whofe eledion v/e once oppofed, however reafonable and well founded that oppofition may have been, but the magijlrate^ in fupporting whom, on conftitutional ground, we fupport the gov- ernment of which he is the head.
Even when the public good requires, as doubtlefs it may require, that the charader and conduct of public officers fhould be expof- cd, a folemn decency, and not a bitter and
274 Proofs cfihe ExUlence
licentious fpirit, flili lefs a fpirit of falfehoodf,- ought to mark the tranfadion. Nor will the cenfurable parts of their condud juftify our withholding aid, countenance, and fupport in the due execution of their office*
7th. Serioufly refleft upon the nature and tendency of fecret focieties. Weiiliaupt him=^ felf propofes the queftion, " Have you any idea of the power of fecret focieties ?" It is obvious, at iv:^ view, that they ar€ not friendly to that harmony and cordial union which are fo defirable in every fociety*- Should fome of the children in a family form themfelves into a fecret club, exclude their brethren from their private meetings a.nd con- fidence, and be often whifpering their fecrets^ it is eafy to forefee that an undue partiality among the confederated brethren, andjeal- cufy, dillruft, and alienation of affedion on the other part, would be the natural ccnfe- quences. The effecls will be fimilar, and equally certain,, though they may be lefs vif- fible, in larger focieties. From the notorious tendency of fuch combinations, many weighty and interefting objetlions were made to the eftabliflmient of the order of the Cinci/wati ; but the development of the myileries of Illumin- ifrj, has given an additional weight tc tlicfe
and Eff.ds of llluminifm, 275
argumentr,, aad placed, in a glaring light, the dangerous tendency of cxcluiive confederacies.
lam not infeniible that thcfe remarks crim^ inate, in a degree, the order of Mafonry. The refpecl I feel for many gentlemen of this order, •' .ong my acquaintance, who. I doubt not, 1 the fociety with pure intentions, and ^ ; ^ .-nainiree from this contamination ; and my belief of ^lic iin^^orr-iptnefs of the New- England Ic _ lave made it, to me, an ungrateful talk to relate the dark deiigns to which their order, after fo long preferving its luflre, has been fubjecled. I ean affure them that views, to which every private coniideration muft yield, have been my fole inducement to undertake this duty. This, in the minds of thofe of the order whofe approbation is mofl to be valued, I doubt not will appear a fufScient apology. To thefe candid Mafons I helitate not to fay, that to me, a fufpenfion at leaft, of mafonic opera- tions, appears to be a meafurc, which the fafe- ty of fociety, in its prefent flate, recommends ; and it is difficult to conceive how any perfon, who admits the truth of the foregoing flate- ments, can dilTent from this idea. It is the fentiment of m.any refpeclable Mafons ; and feveral lodges in Germany have aclyally
276 Proofs (yf the ExJjhrue
clofed their proceedings, on this principle. It is with pleafure I tranfcribe an extradl from a mafonic oration on fuch an occafion, hop- ing, that the cxartiple and. the fentiments, will have their due influence.
" Brethren, and Cpmpanions, give free vent to your forrow ; the days of innocent equali- ty are gone by. However holy our^myfteries may have been, the lodges are now profaned and fullied. Brethren, and companions, let your tears flow ; attired in your mourning robes attend, and let us feal up the gates of our temples, for the profane have found means of penetrating into them. They have con- verted them into retreats for their impiety, into dens of confpirators. Within the facred %valls they have planned their horrid deeds, and the ruin of nations. Let us weep over our legions which they have feduced. Lodges that 7nay ferve as hiding places for thefe con- fpirators muft remain forever fliut, both to us and every good citizen."*
He who thus facrifices his amufements and pleafures to the interefts of fociety, acquires a dignity beyond what the higheil honors of Mafonry can confer.
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. (ji.
and Eff.as of Ilhaniniftu. 27;
8th. Cheerfully fubmit to the reftraints ^hich the rules of religion and the good order of fociety require. There are principles in the human heart which unwillingly endure con- trol, and on thefe principles the diforganizers of the day place their chief dependence. They artfully endeavor to inflame the pailions^ to awaken a defire of forbidden objects and gratificaiion, and then exhibit the reftraints of religion and government, as tyrannically oppofmg enjoyment.
This is the true import of liberty andeqiiaUu^ as the words are ufed by modern impoftorso The abufe to which thefe terms are liable is obvious ; for, when once unlawful pailions are excited, it becomes an eafy talk to perfuade men that whatever checks thofe inclinations, is an abridgment of their natural liberty ; and when, in this way, a popular torrent is formed, in vain religion, order, juftice, ot hutnanity oppofe their reftraints. Liberty is a vague term, nor do thefe men with to define it ; they wifh to have m^en feel that they are injured by whatever oppofes their inclination?, and w^hen they have inftilled into them this fentiment of fedition, it is eafy to render men hoftile to all the reftraints which religion and focial order impofe. This is the liberty which z
27S Proofs of the Exijlence
Illumlnifm has actively propagated. Modern philofophers have difcovered, that the laws of modeily impofe an unjuft reibraint on the freedom of the fair fex ; that the fubjedion which children are required to yield to their parents, is an unreafonable ufurpation ; and the law^ which obliges married people to live together, aft^r their affections for each other are alienated, is tyrannical.
But you, my countrymen, do not wifii for this kind of liberty. The glory of your con- fatudon is, that it preferves the citizens in the free enjoyment of their natural rights, under the protection of equal law^s and impar- tial jufdce. You wifli to have your lives, property, and privileges, both civil and religious, preferved to you : Guard then thofe of your neighbors j for know, that the mo- ment the enclofures which protect their rights are broken down, yours are no longer fecure. "W'latever w^eakens the force of moral and religious obligations ; whatever lefTens the reftraints, already Tufiiciently weak, which the laws impofe on the unruly pafTions of men, proportionably expofes the lives, liberties, and property of the quiet part of tlie community to tlic depredations of the lawlefs.
and EffeHs of lUummpu 27-9
One of the mod furpriling efiecls attending the diforganlzing principles of the day, is, that men of property fliould be induced ta give fupport to a fyftem which deftroys the barriers by which property is protecled. That fome few, who wifli to acquire influence,, and mount into places of honor and truft, fliould adopt thefe vialent means to " burfi: open the doors" leading to the emoluments of oflice, is not, indeed, flrange ; but the quiet, unambitious citizen, whofe utmoil wifli is to- preferve the fruit of his labor and exertion, mufl be com- pletely duped not to perceive, that he expofes to the greatefl hazard what he is principally defirous to preferve. Pleafed with the idea of faving a few fhillings, neceffary for the de- fence of his property, he expofes the whole.
In the fame abfurd manner do they reafon, who concei%^e that the perfection of liberty confiils in unbounded indulgence. Extremes are faid to meet and produce fmiilar euecls. This maxim applies to the prefent cafe. When people grow weary of fubjecling their pafHons to neceffary reftraints, a ftate of diforder and faction enfues. Some popular leader, improv- ing his afcendency over the divided, diitra^t- ed multitude, erects a defpotifm ; and, flatter- ing their paffions, he at length eflabliflics his siuthority on a furer bafis.
28o Proofs of the Exljlence
Read this truth in the hiftory of ancient Greece and Rome. See it verified in modern France. Advancing, in their own opinion, to the very pinnacle of Hberty and equality, we fee them fuddenly reduced to a ftate of complete vailalage. The difcerning part of the nation were not deceived, but weary of a liberty v/hich left no fecurlty to their lives or property, they acquiefced in the ufurpation of the Chief Conful : Thisisthe natural and una- voidable confequence of licentious indul- gences. Hearken not then, my countrymen, to thofe, who endeavor to render you diilatis- iied with the reftraints of religion, or the ex- penfes necelTary for the maintenance of ufeful inftitutions, and the fupport of good govern* mcnt.
and Effc6fs of lllwnimfiiu 38^
TO THE CLERGT.
AS this fubjecl Is particularly intererdng ta the American Clergy, I beg leave to prefent it to them in a point of view, in which it ap- pears to me of peculiar importance.
Fathers and Brethreiiy
WHILE I fee with pleafure your excrtiona in oppofition to prevailing infidelity, permit me to direct your attention to a temptation, by which, as we learn from the preceding hif- torical Iketches, the German divines v/ere enfnared, viz. that of attempting to reconcile infidels to the gofpel, by reducing it to tlieir taiie ; either by explaining away, or keeping out of light, its ofTenfive peculiarities. From the foregoing recital it appears, that the fecond branch of Illuminifm, the Germian Union, was grafted on a mutilated fyflem of Chriftianity*
In the hiflory of the Chriilian church, we are often reminded of the injuries Chriilianity has received from the attempts of its advo- €ates to render the gofpel palatable to its.
2i2
282 Proofs of the Exijience
oppofers. Upon this principle, firft the Oriental, then the Platonic, afterwards the Ariftotelian, fyftems of philofophy became, in different ages, the ftandards for explaining the facred writings ; and the doftrincs of Infinite Wif- dom have been diilorted into a compliance with thofe fyftems of human weaknefs and folly. Hence, alfo, arofe the fcheme of an iiidd-sn meaning, and myftical interpretation, fo zealouily adopted by Origen and others.
This doubtlefs has been fometimesdone with a friendly defign, but the confequences have always been unhapp^^ ; and unhappy they ever muft be. Befides the impiety of the attempt, it 13 very obvious, that it is merely the cor- ruptions, in thefe mutilated fyftems, with which infidels harmonize. Their hearts are no more reconciled to the Gofpel than before ; all the advantage refulting to Chriftianity confifts in the external aid they afford the caufe ; and this is incomparably overbalanced by the in- jury done to the purity of its do61rines. Nor is even this aid noxv to be expected ; for miod- crn infidels, renouncing their former pre- tended refpeli for natural religion, have taken their proper ground, which is abfolute atheifm.
'' Thus did not Paul.'^ Wlnle fully fenfi- ble that the gofpel lie preached was, " a
and EffeSls of Blurniniffiu ^2^3
tumbling block to the Jew, and foolifhnefs to the Greek/' he complimented neither the one nor the other, either by adopting their fentiments, or relinquifhing his own ; but with a refolution worthy the great defender of Chriilianity, determined, in face of this oppofition, to affert the dodrine of a crucified Saviour ; nay, as if forefeeing the indire6i: meafures which fome would take to recom- mend Chriilianity, he pronounces " him ac- curfed who fhouid preach another gofpel," adding, that by another go/pel^ he meant the gofpel of Chrift perverted, or corrupted.
In this he conformed to the will of his Di- vine Mafter, who ilated unalterably the terms of admillion into his kingdoin, declaring with the greateft folemnity, that unlefs they received the kingdom of God (the fcheme of doctrines he taught) with the meeknefs, and teachablenefs of little children, they fhouid in no wife enter therein. It will not be pre- tended that he was unmindful of the oppo- fition of the human heart to the doctrines he taught, but under a full view of that oppo- fition, he demanded for them a ready recep- tion, and the unequivocal fubmiflion of man- kind. The triumphof the gofpel is effedednot by relinquifliing its demands, in compliance
2 84 Proofs of the Exi/ience
with the corruptions and caprices of mankind, but by fubcluing the pride, enmity, and oppo'. lition of the heart, and " bringing into cap- tivity every thought to the obedience of Chrift/'
I have thus, my countrymen, exprelTed my fentiments v^ith the freedom which is yet one of the happy privileges of our country ; and with the faithfulnefs which becomes one who fees his fellow men expofed to iminent dan- gers, I have never covered a paragraph, on any of the fubjecls here brought into vieu'', by an anonymous publication. By this ob- fervation I mean not to criminate, in the leaft degree, thofe gentlemen, who, in this way have enlightened and inftrucled the public ; but it is moil agreeable to my feelings, efpe- cially in prefent circumftances, to make myfelf refponfible to the public, for my opinions oa thefe fubjeds,*
* Had the proper names of the authors been affixed to all the publications of the day, it is to be prefumed that the clergy would be found chargeable with a fmall pro- portion of thofe which have been fo liberally palmed upon them without the lead evidence, and plainly with a dcfiga to injure their characters.
and Effetls of Illumimfni.. 2S5
Confidering the fpirit of the times, a mean- ing and dcfign will doubtlefs be attributed to the writer which never entered his mind. V/ith refped to himfelf, this is a circumflance of trifling confequence \ as it refpecls the fuc- cefs of his labors, he is defirous to remove every obftacle ; and would therefore obferve, that nothino; has been introduced into \his work but what, it was conceived, would ferve to give weight to the directions fuggelled in this addrefs'. In your attention to thefe fen- tim.ents coniifts your ftrength. Your enemies muft draw you from this ground before they can prevail. Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established ; be- lieve HIS proph^ets, so shall ye prosper,*
* 2 Chroniclesj xx. 20,
286 Proofs of the Exijlence
conclusion:
PAINFUL has it been to me, and no lef^. fb, I prefume, to the reader, to traverfe thefc regions of moral death, and to contemplate the direful eiFe^ls produced by torrents of cor- ruption, flowing from the fulnefs of the hu- man heart. Gladly would I relieve his mind, and my own, with brighter profpecls and more cheerful fcenes ; and fuch prefent them- felves to him w^ho meekly receives the inftruc» tions of his Maker, and fur'veys futurity with an eye of faith. By this light we dif- cover, that the plan of Providence, however complicated its operations^ is but one ; hav- ing for its benevolent objed, the produclion of order out of confuiion, of good from eviL Under the orovernment of Infinite Wifdom and love, this confoling truth is exemplified in numberlefs inftances, from the plant, w^hich ow^es its vigor to putrefaction, to the increaf- ing purification the good man derives from conliicls and fuffcrings ; and from thence to the crofs of a Saviour which gave life to the world. If we admit this prime truth, we need not a fpirit of prophecy to forefee, that
and Effe&s of lllumlmfnu 287
thefe efforts of infidelity will prepare the way for, and haften its deilruccion : That the convulfions excited by thefe diforganizers will (but not in the way which they predict, nor according to their intentions) purify its conflitution, and introduce an healthier ftatc into focicty : That all the attempts which have been made to deftroy the foundations of moral oblio;ation, and the evidences of Chriflianity, will eventually eftabliih the one^ and coniirm the other.
Is it alked when this happy era will com- mence ? Not perhaps in this theorizing gen- eration ; not w^hile men's heads are filled with the idea of creeling a peaceful, happy repub- lic upon the bafis of atheifm. But the time will come, when w^ifdom w411 refumxC her feat, and man will fubmit to be taught by experi- ence, and by his Maker. Then will his ear be opened to the lelTons of wifdom, to the demonftrations of truth, wdiich the hiilory of the prefent period affords.;
Would it be extrava2:ant to affert, that the collecled hiilory of all ages and nations, facred liiflory excepted, does not furnifh fo much im.portant and ufeful inftruclion, as will probably be derived from the events which
2 S 8 Trcofs of the Exljlence
have come Into view witliin the laft fixty years ? In the period referred to, we have been prefented with what may be confidered, as a courfe of experimental leclures on reHg- ion, morals, and the interefts of fociety ; in which many important principles and truths Iiave received a clear iliuilration, and beeri demonftrated to the fenfes*
In many excellent treatifes has Chriftianity been defended, and the tendency of infidelity^ in its influence on the mind, and on fociety^ held up to the public ; but as abilracl: reafon- ings make but a faint imprelTion on the great body of mankind, infidels have confidently denied the charges brought againft them, and the juilnefs of the conclufions drawn from their fentiments. Infidels have formed •the minority in every fociety; they w^ere therefore naturally led to plead for toleration. Their principles were under a continual cheeky and a regard to reputation and perfonal fafety; induced a comphance with the cuftoms and m.anners of the age. In proof of the import- ance of religion to a civil community, the advocates of Chriftianity appealed to the ftate of fociety in heathen nations ; but this did not amount to a fair experiment; for the heathens were not infidels. The fcattered rays
and EffcHs of lllumlnlfriu 2 S 9
of revelation, collecled by their philofophers, produced fomething like a fyftem of religion, which, however inadequate to the principal purpofes of religion, had a happy efi^cl on fociety and morals.
Infidelity never before appeared in her prop- er character. Infidels, formerly, fpake much of virtue and religion, applauded the morality of the gofpel,and aiFeded to admire many of its dodrines. Lord Herbert calls " the Chriftian, the beft religion.'' Lord Bolingbroke repre- fents " Chriftianity as a mod amiable and ufeful inftitution, and that its natural ten- dency is to promote the peace and happincfs of mankind." It was plead by the advocates of Chriftianity, that whoever had any real love to moral beauty could not but embrace the gofpel ; but deifts denied the truth of this affertion, and to fupport their argument, were perpetually proclaiming the beauty of virtue and natural religion. But now it ap- pears that all this was a mere fineife, adapted to conceal the fatal tendency of their opinions. Infidelity, confiding in her ftrength, and the increafing number of her advocates, has now laid afide her mafK, and we have feen her in France, fierce, cruel, unjuft, oppreffive, aban- doned and profligate, as llae is-; rejecl;ing thofe A a
290 T roofs of the Exijlence^ &c.
moral precepts die once profeiTed to admire, proudly affuming entire independence, and ranking the fovereign of heaven with the tyrants ofthe earth.
We have grounds to expect, that the genu- ine tendency, both of infidelity and Chriftian- ity, as they refpecl fociety, will be fully and undeniably demonilrated. It is undoubtedly a part of the fcheme of Providence, to lay open the human heart, and to prove important truths by convincing experim.ents. Were- mankind duly inipreiled with that view of the tendency of infidelity, which late events have exhibited, it would afford a rational hope that its reign would foon ceafe ; but while fo many remain unconvinced, there is reafon to fear its more deplorable prevalence, before the dawning of that happy day, when Chriftianity, infufing its benign influence into every heart, fliall produce permanent peace=» 'ind the precious fruits of univerfal love.
jF I N I S\
^
I